The Code (2019) s01e04 Episode Script
Back on the Block
Previously on The Code It looks like she may be getting an update - on the status of her son.
- Adam and three other Marines might have been forced at gunpoint to get into the back of a truck.
My lawyer's going to ask you to testify.
He thinks I can win a wrongful death suit.
This guy wants to sue the Corps? I put Noah Hewitt away.
Why can't Swillce just use that? My C.
O.
says it could end my career.
SWILLCE: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, - so help you God? - I do.
(MONITOR BEEPING) (MOANS SOFTLY) AMANDA: Are you all right? My name's Amanda.
I'm gonna stay with you.
Am I dying? That's a Bronze Star.
You were in combat.
I need to tell you something.
(CRYING): I should have stopped it.
I should have done something.
Stopped what? We shot him.
He shot him.
We watched.
I saw a murder.
MAYA: Ladies and gentlemen, I have often been called the Lumber King of Winston-Salem, and while I appreciate the compliment, I reject the title.
This is America.
We had a king, it didn't take.
I don't need a fancy title.
I just need your vote, so I can return to the State Senate as a paragon of the traditional values my opponent Matthew Dobbins sees fit to reject.
"Paragon"? - What? Is that an SAT word? - Yes.
Your brother asked you to help him with debate prep, right? Let's assume he wants you to portray his opponent convincingly.
I think I know how to gauge an audience.
I represented Spring Hill High at Nationals.
Did you do it while trying to embody a 60-year-old millionaire named Bryson? (PHONES CHIMING, VIBRATING) Did you just get an e-mail from the colonel's adjutant? Mm-hmm.
"Urgent.
Watch attached video ASAP.
" CAVELLO: We were on patrol.
An-Najaf.
Right before things got hairy in-country.
Our corpsman, Pierce, he stopped to help this Iraqi kid.
Pierce got shot.
Right in the neck.
DOA.
We rousted the building where the shot came from.
Pulled somebody who could have been the shooter, then argued about what to do with him.
The lieutenant, Jones, he walked up to the local we rousted.
Jones shot him in the head.
Christopher Cavello was honorably discharged in 2008.
He made that confession to a volunteer a few hours ago.
Lance Corporal Cavello died 90 minutes after making that video.
If what he says is true, legally speaking, it's admissible as a deathbed confession.
When did Cavello serve in Najaf? '04.
He was in the fight against the Mahdi Army.
And he served under a lieutenant named Robert Jones.
These are the Marines that were on patrol with Lance Corporal Cavello that day.
I want to get ahead of this.
Find them, see if anybody corroborates the story.
You're here because I told Senior Defense Counsel to assign an attorney to Cavello's estate.
His next of kin needs to be apprised of what to expect.
And this lieutenant? Robert Jones? We should hear what he has to say.
I say Major Ferry and I run down these enlisted guys.
Lieutenant Li, you can head up the search for Jones.
You two hunt down Lance Corporal Gustavo Antico, Staff Sergeant Blaise Morales, and I look for "Robert Jones"? That's right.
How many men named Robert Jones were in the Marine Corps in 2004, you think? More than a handful but less than a quorum? Captain Dobbins.
The Senior Defense Counsel needs you.
Apparently, there's a champagne toast in the offing.
It's not even 1000.
Lieutenant Colonel Talley? Looks like I missed the festivities.
One of the butterbars got it for me.
We kind of had to pop it.
Got it because? Right.
Come on in.
You can move those.
So, yeah.
I'm not gonna be Senior Defense Counsel anymore.
The Judicial Screening Board tapped me.
I'm gonna go be a judge for a while.
Congratulations, sir.
I've got cases to pass off.
I know you're already busy, but, uh You're giving me your entire caseload? How are the next few days? (LAUGHS SOFTLY) I'm going to North Carolina.
My brother? Debate prep? I-I reminded you two days ago.
Huh.
This is tricky.
Uh, maybe I can work something out.
That'd be great.
I appreciate it.
Oh, Captain.
I'm recommending you for Senior Defense Counsel.
What? It'll be Colonel Turnbull's decision, ultimately, but, uh, someone has to replace me, and you're the most qualified.
You should look happier.
You're ambitious.
I am happy, I'm just surprised.
To be honest, sir, I thought you considered us all interchangeable.
You're measurably less interchangeable than the rest.
(PHONE RINGS) MATT: Good morning, Dobbins campaign.
Good morning.
I was hoping to speak to the candidate.
Do you think such a thing is possible? What, you just call up and ask to talk to the guy in charge? My mama taught me it never hurts to ask.
Did your mom also teach you how to cope with disappointment? She always said to just go ahead and win, and then you can help the other fella cope.
Hmm.
Smart lady.
I can't come, Matty.
What? It's a long story.
My boss dumped - a bunch of stuff in my lap.
- (MATT SIGHS) I have exactly two things going for me with voters.
I got recruited to play point guard at half the schools in the ACC, and my little sister is the beautiful blue-eyed assassin of the United States Marine Corps.
- There's nothing I can do.
- Tell you what I'll come see you.
Well, my new place doesn't have a guest bedroom, so you and Neil have to sleep on the pullout.
Neil's gonna sit this one out.
You mind floating me a ticket? Turns out, underdog work - doesn't pay all that well.
- I'll show you my pay stub when you get here.
You sure you don't remember anything? That's well, due respect, that's a big blank spot.
Okay, thanks.
We'll be in touch if we need anything else.
Corporal Isham Kingman works I.
T.
for a company in Des Moines.
He remembers exactly nothing about September 3, 2004.
Whole day's just blank, huh? Convenient.
You can get rid of Bardon.
He hit an IED on his fifth deployment.
Semper Fi, PFC Bardon.
Can we get rid of this thing? I feel like the eyes follow me.
I've got a free life hack for you.
It turns out, if you're a former Marine Corps lieutenant named Robert Jones, one way to hide in plain sight is to use the name "Bobby.
" Cavello's former C.
O.
goes by "Bobby Jones" now? NARRATOR: Bobby Jones.
A name Indiana knows.
A name Indiana trusts.
TREY: That's the Bobby Jones we're looking for? He served in Iraq from '03 to '05.
It was a huge part of his first campaign.
Well, Christopher Cavello just accused the sitting congressman from Indiana's third district of murder.
NARRATOR: Bobby Jones.
A name Indiana knows.
A name Indiana trusts.
This is the Robert Jones we're looking for? We triple-checked.
Jones was the lieutenant in command of Christopher Cavello's platoon.
He resigned his commission as a captain 12 years ago.
Obviously, we retain jurisdiction over anything that happened while Jones was serving.
I am not going to refer charges based on Cavello's deathbed confession.
He was delirious, and I'm sure morphine was somewhere in the equation.
You need to get the other Marines in his unit to corroborate.
We could take a statement from Jones.
If it doesn't square with the other accounts of the day, we could make hay with that.
- Are you registered to vote? - Excuse me, ma'am? Is your address a matter of public record? Have you contributed to any political causes recently? Yes, to all of the above.
The moment Congressman Jones becomes aware that we are investigating his potential in a possible homicide, that we're invoking our jurisdiction over a Marine captain who has been back on the block for over a decade, a machine will kick into gear that is designed to protect that man, and the first thing it's going to do is take a nice long look at you.
What if I'm registered to the same party Jones is? - Are you? - You are? I don't want to know that.
And even if you are, that is not going to save you.
Are you a shining example of your party's values? The platonic ideal of all they hope for in a voter? I mean, I've been told I have good hair.
Wherever you fall short and you will they will find it, and they will build a narrative of bias around it.
Sound fun? Maybe interview the platoon guys for now? The former staff sergeant's local.
Morales.
- We can start there.
- Should I work the phones? Actually, Lieutenant Li, you're not on this.
- Ma'am? - You're from San Francisco.
That is practically a political stance of its own.
I'm sorry, Harper.
If this becomes a thing, you're a liability.
TREY: Yes, ma'am.
Uh, my wife and I have discussed it quite a bit.
We've been trying for almost two years now.
We're ready.
(CHUCKLES) Right uh, we're insured through the Marine Corps.
W-We understand that the treatments are out of pocket, but the brochure says there's a military discount.
Okay, great.
Uh, there's no actual price point in your literature.
That's with the discount? Okay.
Thank you very much.
Bye-bye now.
(SIGHS) What did Morales say? Well, he can tell you plenty about September 2, 2004.
He's positively expansive on the subject of September 4th.
- And the 3rd? - Total blank spot.
Fog of war.
These guys are hiding something.
If Gustavo Antico busts out, we can discuss next steps.
You're going with the fancy place.
Is the number about what you expected? (INHALES SHARPLY) You can't go through the Corps? I am not taking Nona to a student hospital for fertility treatments.
(ENGINE STARTS) ABE: Gustavo Antico? TICO: It's just "Tico.
" TREY: We're here to talk about Christopher Cavello, Lieutenant Robert Jones, and what happened September 3, 2004.
Cavello got sick a couple years ago, but then I kind of stopped hearing from him.
He was living on the street.
Homeless? I wish he would have reached out.
You guys were friends? Chris saved my life.
He saved most of our lives.
We didn't exactly have the best leadership.
He was a good Marine.
I don't care what happened after.
TREY: You say you didn't have the best leadership.
So? September 3, 2004? Is Chris telling the truth? Did your lieutenant shoot an Iraqi local that day? Man, that was a long time ago.
This was the last thing Christopher Cavello talked about.
You're really gonna let his dying words just disappear into the wind? If Isiah Crowley doesn't give us anything, that's the whole platoon.
Not the whole platoon.
The colonel said not to talk to Congressman Jones.
Due respect to Colonel Turnbull, but there have been changes to the informational landscape since she made that suggestion.
There's no new information.
We had nothing except Cavello's confession then, we got nothing but Cavello's confession now.
I'm not talking about new information.
I'm talking about changes to the informational landscape.
Trey, these guys are hiding something.
I know we can't prove it yet, but come on.
What changes with a visit to Jones? It's like Turnbull said, there's a playbook for this stuff.
If we go to Jones and tell him that we're looking at him for a shooting based on the testimony of Christopher Cavello, what's the first thing Jones and his advisors are gonna do? Smear Cavello, make sure the confession doesn't stick.
And how do you think that's gonna sit with Tico? You want to provoke an attack against Cavello to get Tico to tell the truth? It works or it doesn't.
What do we got to lose? Were you in that meeting with the colonel? Trey, if Bobby Jones wasn't in Congress, if he was just some guy who maybe committed cold-blooded murder, what would we do then? MAYA: My opponent has me clean licked when it comes to social media and web pages and the like.
He understands these things better than I do.
What he doesn't understand is what makes North Carolina operate.
He doesn't know Carteret County.
He doesn't know Hoke County.
If it happens outside of Raleigh-Durham, Matthew Dobbins doesn't want to know about it.
Wow, you're more articulate than Bryson Culler on his best day, and you need to grow out your jowls if you really want to capture his likeness, - but the message, dead-on.
- Thanks.
I grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, practicing my jump shot at the park down by the granite quarry.
When Andy Griffith needed a place to set his television show, he based it on my hometown.
So, I have to ask: if I'm such a cosmopolitan, how is it that I'm literally from Mayberry? My opponent - has spent more time in Raleigh - (PHONE CHIMING, VIBRATING) in the last year alone than Sorry, your phone.
I got it.
It's fine.
Keep going.
Right.
My opponent has spent more time in - Sorry, just, uh - Matt, come on.
- Just give me a sec.
- That was on point.
(SIGHS) Do you mind putting your phone in here? Just so no one can listen in.
You brought a Faraday bag to my apartment? Look who got a badge in electromagnetics.
My people say we can't be too careful.
- Your "people"? - Yeah.
Your campaign is Addison from law school - and ten volunteers.
- You're doing it.
- Doing what? - You're making a thing out of it.
(SIGHS) I'll be right back.
Does he really need that? No one's spying on us.
JONES: What can I do for you gentlemen? A Marine who served under your command passed away yesterday.
Christopher Cavello? I heard Cavello was sick, but no one could find him.
Two hours before he died, he recorded a statement claiming he witnessed a murder in An-Najaf.
What kind of murder? Cavello said his platoon commander shot an Iraqi in the head on September 3, 2004.
That's you, Congressman Jones.
Yeah, I'm aware of that, Major.
I mean, he's wrong, of course.
The only Iraqis I killed were the enemy.
And you're confident the other members of your platoon would say the same thing? You're taking this seriously? Cavello's statement was a deathbed confession.
This is due diligence.
(SIGHS) Of course, they'll say the same thing.
Cavello was struggling, right? He was living on the street before he died, yes.
Alcohol? Drugs? We don't know.
I don't know if Cavello was manipulated by someone with an agenda, or if he had a mental health thing going on.
I'll pray for him tonight either way.
But, guys there's nothing to see here.
(PHONE RINGING) GLEN (OVER INTERCOM): Sorry to bother you again, ma'am.
It's the ACMC's adjutant.
Apparently, they want an upda He will get a report in due course.
Glen, no calls means no calls.
I told you, do not talk to Jones.
Strictly speaking, ma'am, you advised us that it wouldn't be in our best interest to go see him.
And why did you ignore my advice? We didn't.
We only went to see Congressman Jones after there were certain changes in the informational landscape.
Did you just say "informational landscape"? He sure did.
(PHONE RINGS) Glen, I said no calls.
GLEN: Actually, it came in through Major Ferry's office.
Someone named Gustavo Antico? He says it has to do with the shooting.
- We'll take it.
- Put him through.
Tico.
- Hey, are you there? - TICO: I'm here.
They're saying Chris was crazy.
That's wrong.
He was my friend.
Who's saying that? Jones, and one of the other guys from my platoon.
They're gonna smear Cavello's name so this dies straight away.
I'm not gonna let 'em.
Is there something you want to tell us, Tico? Lieutenant Jones, Congressman Jones Jones killed that man.
Shot him right in the head.
Okay, thank you, Tico.
Apprehend Congressman Jones.
And be ready for what comes next.
Good afternoon, Captain Abraham.
Major Ferry asked me to tell you that he's already started witness prep with Gustavo Antico.
Thank you, Rami.
You may want to, uh, brace yourself before you join him.
Brace myself for what, the prospect of walking into my workplace? Who's the sparring partner? RAMI: That's Colonel Wesley Riggle.
He's the current commander of Congressman Jones's former battalion.
Which, of course, makes him the convening authority in any potential court-martial.
And Colonel Riggle is less than enthusiastic about referring charges against a sitting congressman for something that happened 15 years ago? I can't hear what they're saying, but at no point in the last 20 minutes has the colonel appeared to be anything but truculent.
I'd have gone with "bellicose" myself.
I considered bellicose, sir.
In my opinion, there are subtle differences.
We got two witnesses.
There's no way the convening authority invokes his right to kill the court-martial.
I agree that it would be an unusual step, but Colonel Riggle seems unusually truculent.
When I said brace yourself, sir, I meant to prepare for the possibility that there's no case at all.
You are going to court-martial.
I'm impressed.
That didn't look like two people coming to an agreement.
Colonel Riggle was very curious about my voting record.
Why does that keep coming up? Congressman Jones either murdered this guy or he didn't.
Hmm.
Welcome to 2019, Captain Abraham.
We'll leave the light on for you in case you decide to stay.
I pushed it through by reminding the colonel that as convening authority, he gets to appoint both the judge and the members of the panel.
He has considerable influence over potential proceedings.
So you reminded him that he could put his thumb on the scale and make our jobs as hard as he wants to.
Be glad you got that much.
He came here to kill the whole thing.
How's your case? The victim, Kadir Fa'iz, his death is officially listed as accidental, but there are no details other than that.
That's fishy, so Trey and I can make some hay there.
Cavello's confession hits hard, you've seen it.
Once the fireworks show starts, it'll be him and Gustavo Antico versus the other members of the platoon.
And how does Lance Corporal Antico stack up as a witness? Well, he has trouble staying on script.
I had to keep reminding him to call the victim by name, and he gets defensive any time I try to give him guidance.
Hopefully it's jitters.
If he's nervous here, it's gonna be worse on the stand.
And Congressman Jones has hired private counsel.
You'll be going up against Martin DeWitt.
Yes, it's nice to have friends with money.
(KNOCKING) You're here late.
You took over Colonel Talley's caseload, right? Can we talk about the charges against Lieutenant Thomas Sinclair? Dereliction of duty, failure to obey an order, insubordination, and a later charge of adultery.
Ten percenter? That's what I thought at first, but everyone says he's outstanding.
So I dug some more.
Turns out he was having an affair, with the wife of his captain, who's his direct report.
I confirmed it.
So you're saying all these other charges are a vendetta? (PHONE CHIMING, VIBRATING) Do you need to get that? No idea who it is.
How did you ask a captain, without being insubordinate, if his wife was sleeping around? I did something harder.
I went to the wife.
I think we can find a way to handle this with NJP.
Thank you, ma'am.
Lieutenant Li.
Would you say they appreciate your talents upstairs? You don't have to answer, but I do want you to think about it.
Talley is recommending me to take over as Senior Defense Counsel.
You're good, Harper.
I want to put you to work on the defense side.
Wow.
(PHONE CHIMING, VIBRATING) Like I said, think about it.
We'll talk.
Hello? MATT (OVER PHONE): Are we doing this? Matty? Addison ran out to get food, but I start fading about an hour after dinner.
I told you I had to work late.
What's with the local number? I, uh, lost track of my cell.
Really? Because you didn't have it the other day when I called your office either.
- Did you get rid of your phone? - No.
Remind me what meds you're taking now.
- Maya, come on.
- Come on, yourself, Matty.
The Faraday bag, the burner phones.
You're acting like the bad old days.
You're right.
I've been tense.
I fell back on some of my old stuff, but I know there's no one - watching me.
- What's your medication? Risperidone.
Vortioxetine.
- And are you taking it? - Yes, I'm taking it.
- Are you coming or what? - Don't worry.
We'll get your full session of prep.
Welcome to Quantico, Mr.
DeWitt.
Thank you, Your Honor.
It's a privilege to have an attorney of your stature with us.
Now let's discuss this brief.
The official font of this courtroom is Helvetica 12, not Times New Roman, and not, as you seem to believe, Courier.
Why Courier? The convening authority stacked the deck against us by picking Pace? - Yeah, why? - Nothing, it's just not so long ago, we weren't supposed to ask or tell on the subject of Major Pace.
Log Cabin.
Pace is married to a baritone, but his politics are as old-school as it gets.
Comment, Captain Abraham? Just remarking how much I appreciate the clean lines of Helvetica, Your Honor.
To the members of the panel, you are to consider all the evidence, which doesn't mean you must necessarily believe all the evidence.
You need not, for example, consider a deathbed recording more credible than testimony that unfolds here before you.
Why not just call Cavello a liar? TICO: We dragged Fa'iz out of the building.
Everybody was mad about the corpsman that got shot, but Cavello was shouting at us not to kill Fa'iz.
Lieutenant Jones ordered us back to the Humvee, but some of the guys didn't move.
When I turned to go, I heard a shot, I turned back.
Lieutenant Jones still had his weapon drawn.
Fa'iz was dead.
TREY: Is there any doubt in your mind that Captain Jones shot Kadir Fa'iz? No, sir.
Absolutely none.
Tico did good.
Let's hope he sticks to the script on cross.
It's only the ball game.
Mr.
Antico, I want you to be clear and precise, so there's no confusion for the court.
Did you see Captain Jones shoot the enemy combatant? Objection.
The victim was a human being named Kadir Fa'iz.
It was never established that he was an enemy combatant.
I'll rephrase, Your Honor.
Did you see Captain Jones shoot the Iraqi national? No, sir.
I see.
And at any point during your service or after, did you hear Lance Corporal Cavello complain about his commanding officer? - Of course.
- So that's a yes.
And is it fair to say that Lance Corporal Cavello had a grudge against Captain Jones? Mr.
Antico? I guess.
So Christopher Cavello, a man of questionable character, living on the streets, lobs an accusation against Bobby Jones, member of Congress, a man who's had the success in life that Cavello never did, and you backed Cavello's play.
Mm.
Why? Chris Cavello respected the chain of command.
He respected the Corps.
(QUIETLY): Stick to the script, Tico.
TICO: Cavello got sick, and he fell through the cracks.
His character wasn't questionable.
Please answer the question, Mr.
Antico.
I'm answering your question.
I backed Cavello's play because he was a good Marine and a man of God.
If Christopher Cavello said he saw Robert Jones shoot Kadir Fa'iz, that is exactly what happened.
And you dishonor the sacrifices that Christopher Cavello made for this country when you try to drag his name down into the political mud.
Your client murdered someone.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Did I say, "Stick to the script, Tico"? Because I meant, "Do whatever it is you just did.
" Government rests, Your Honor.
Mr.
DeWitt? (CLEARS THROAT) Mr.
DeWitt.
Can we trouble you to present a case? Your Honor, we request a short recess.
My name is Blaise Morales.
I am I was the staff sergeant with the congressman's platoon in 2004.
DEWITT: And you were on patrol with him September 3rd of that year? BLAISE: I was.
Can you tell me what happened after your corpsman was shot? Our rifleman fired an M203 into the house where the shot came from.
We went in, and a couple of us carried an Iraqi local out.
I thought this guy didn't remember anything.
This man has been identified as Kadir Fa'iz.
Now, why did you carry him? His right leg was blown off.
He was bleeding real bad.
He begged us, begged for mercy.
That's why the lieutenant did it.
- Objection.
- DEWITT: Did what? That's why he shot Kadir Fa'iz.
(GALLERY MURMURING) (GAVEL BANGING) Mr.
DeWitt, the documents I saw none of which were submitted in the correct font, by the way described witnesses who couldn't remember anything about the incident in question.
Yes, Your Honor.
On reflection, some details became clear to Mr.
Morales.
Details that just happen to plant the concept of a mercy killing in the panel's mind? The government's central witness was obviously more compelling than Mr.
DeWitt expected him to be, so now he's trying this bad-faith pivot.
Mr.
Morales had a sudden rush of memory.
- It happens.
- Your Honor, there's no court in the free world that considers mercy a defense for murder.
Correct, Captain Abraham, and I plan to instruct the panel to that effect.
Due respect, Your Honor, but your instructions may not matter.
The defense clearly anticipated your reaction, just as they clearly anticipated that a panel of Marines are going to be reluctant to convict an officer for a so-called mercy killing 15 years after the fact.
That is textbook panel nullification.
They bring in a verdict of "not guilty" based on evidence they were instructed to ignore, and the defense's pursuit of this calls for a new slate of members to hear this proceeding.
- Oh, that's ridiculous.
- PACE: Quiet! All of you.
We're not gathering a new panel.
Would you ask your client if he will agree to a waiver to the statute of limitations? The statute of limitations on what? Manslaughter? You're laying the path for the panel to convict on a lesser included offense.
If you're concerned the panel won't convict Congressman Jones of murder, why not give them the option to convict of manslaughter? Because Bobby Jones murdered someone.
And if you present the panel with a lesser option at this stage, that's practically begging them to take it.
It's either that or you take your chances with a panel nullification.
Mr.
DeWitt? I feel certain that, under the circumstances, my client will grant a waiver.
Matt.
I don't want to get weird, but I'm starting to get worried.
- You okay? Matt? - I'm fine, Maya.
Sheesh.
Maybe I should get a hotel room next time.
Of course not, I'm just checking on you.
I'm kidding.
I can't afford a hotel room anyway.
Oh, Addison had to go back to Winston-Salem.
- She said to say thanks.
- Matt.
Your mouth.
Damn it.
- What did you do? - Nothing, it's just Matt, what were you doing in there? My filling, it's metal.
It's just, you know, signals.
You pried your filling out? I couldn't get it loose.
I I'm sorry.
Oh, my God, Matty.
Here.
She said the tooth's gonna be fine.
I barely got at the filling.
I quit my pills to get ready for the debate.
I'm I don't know, I'm just sharper when I don't take them.
No, you were doing fine with them.
Look where you are.
I know.
It's just It's like looking at the world through gauze.
You just want to see things clearly now and then.
They don't know at the campaign.
You gonna tell Addison? What's gonna happen to me? - Nothing from the panel yet? - Uh, still deliberating.
You know, if they go into tomorrow morning, I might need you to cover for me in court.
Nona and I have a consult at the Bristow clinic.
The, uh, fertility place? You're pulling the trigger? Yeah, we have enough saved up for one cycle.
Barely.
I'm impressed.
All my extra cash is, uh, tied up in retirement stuff.
Yeah, I have a, uh I don't know rainy day fund.
I was planning to request leave.
Request leave? A court rat like you? - (CHUCKLES) - I love it here.
I just finally wanted to write that biography.
Wow, um Bass Reeves.
Who is that guy again? First black U.
S.
marshal west of the Mississippi.
- That's right.
- Caught over 3,000 felons.
Some people think he was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger.
(SIGHS) Feels like if I don't get started on it soon, it stays a pipe dream forever.
It's a great story.
I'd read it.
You okay? Giving it up? I want to be a dad.
(PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) The panel's got a verdict.
This court finds Congressman Jones, on the charge of murder, not guilty.
On the charge of involuntary manslaughter - guilty.
- (GALLERY MURMURING) - We are adjourned until tomorrow.
- (GAVEL BANGS) TREY: We should take the win is all I'm saying.
ABE: Win.
Jones will probably get a de minimus sentence.
He might not even do any time.
He won't be running for president any time soon, and we just convicted a sitting congressman using the testimony of a dead man and a guy who wears a name tag all day.
Take the win.
Then so be it.
We got the best outcome considering we just took down a sitting U.
S.
congress That was a courtesy call from Colonel Riggle.
He is invoking his authority to set aside the decision.
What? He's overturning the verdict? Convening authorities don't do that.
They don't.
But they can.
I will fight this, but as of now, Congressman Jones is walking away a free man.
(PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) (PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) (PHONE RINGING) (PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) I hear you're waiting to see me.
Yes, sir.
Captain John Abraham.
Prosecutor on the Robert Jones case.
What do you want, Captain Abraham? I, uh, came to offer my services, sir.
Great.
Wrangle me up some cardboard boxes so I can pack.
I'm talking about the court-martial.
I came to see if there's anything I can clarify for you.
I have my staff judge advocate to advise me.
The facts are clear.
Anything else? You do quite a bit of fund-raising for Congressman Jones's party.
Excuse me? I'm just trying to understand what happened.
A convening authority hasn't invoked the command prerogative in years.
I am perfectly within my rights, Captain.
And you are insubordinate.
I'm referring you for an NJP.
You want brig time, keep talking.
Dismissed.
Actually, Captain, I will take you up on your offer.
To help.
I need, oh, I don't know, ten cardboard boxes.
Get them for me, ASAP.
I filed the paperwork on Jones.
Thanks.
I'm Oscar Mike.
See you tomorrow.
Did you know Colonel Riggle was in Al Asad in '04? Same theater as Najaf.
So? Abe, the case is over.
I've got the order of battle for September 3, 2004.
There were other units operating in the area.
We had our bite at the apple.
Abe, you can't try Jones for murder twice.
The Rangers went through.
Another unit from 2/6 Abe, you're throwing haymakers after the ref called the fight.
I know that, but Congressman Jones is lying.
There's got to be something here that shows that.
(SIGHS) Thought you were leaving.
I grew up by Fort Sumter.
I have a weakness for lost causes.
It's gonna be a couple weeks before your meds kick back in.
Someone should be with you.
You can stay here.
I'm in the middle of a campaign.
I I can't take time off.
It's gonna be okay, Maya.
I'm gonna stage an epic comeback and unseat the Lumber King.
You're gonna take over the world.
Starting with the defense attorney's office of the Judge Advocate Division.
(SIGHS) We're good, kid.
(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS) (KNOCKING ON DOOR) Good morning, Colonel.
Major Ferry and I brought extra boxes.
Just wanted to make sure you had enough.
I'm fine.
You can leave them by the door, I guess.
Major Ferry, did you know that in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, we used Polish special forces guys pretty much whenever we needed snipers? I read about that.
Different rules of engagement, right? Guys, you don't have to put the boxes together.
Oh, we don't mind.
That's exactly right.
Polish snipers could shoot at people we couldn't.
We'd use American spotters to tell them who to shoot, and then they'd do the actual shooting.
Are you guys listening? You're done here.
According to the order of battle, there was a Polish sniper stationed on a rooftop in Najaf on September 3, 2004.
Right down the street from where Kadir Fa'iz got shot.
Interesting.
- Must have been quite a view.
- Mm.
- Shut the door.
- (DOOR CLOSES) That's Sergeant Wojslaw Nowitski.
He saw everything that happened through his scope.
He saw Bobby Jones kill Kadir Fa'iz.
You two are in violation of Article 89 of the UCMJ, disrespect toward a superior officer.
I'm having you both apprehended right now.
Fa'iz surrendered to Jones, put both hands in the air, but Jones just shot him in the head.
It was murder.
Bobby Jones takes care of the Marine Corps in Congress.
- Our budget - Bobby Jones was a terrible Marine.
Stumbled his way through his commission while his staff sergeant ran the show.
And now he wants to ruin the name of a Marine - who actually did his job? - This is over.
You can't try Jones for murder again.
If you charge him with anything else, he'll have the same convening authority me.
Polish GROM submitted a report of what Nowitski saw.
Do you recognize the signature of the officer who received this statement? Wesley Riggle, Major, USMC.
You were the liaison to multinational forces at Division in Al Asad.
Why'd you bury that report, sir? I didn't bury anything.
We were fighting a war.
So it wasn't intentional, you were just ineffective in command? Watch your tone, Captain.
I'm not on trial here.
Not yet.
Sir.
As for Jones, he instructed the men he commanded to lie under oath.
You'll be busy defending yourself in court.
So we'll be getting a different convening authority when we charge him with conspiracy.
A 134 carrying a concealed weapon; another 134 for impersonating an officer; one misprision of a serious offense; two 89s And a partridge in a pear tree.
That's the last of Talley's caseload.
Thank you, Captain.
You are an outstanding attorney.
I wanted to tell you that, despite Lieutenant Colonel Talley's recommendation, I'm going in a different direction for Senior Defense Counsel.
As I said, you are an asset to your department, and I fully expect you to take on a leadership role at some point.
I would like to see you grow as a manager before you do.
Is there something that you would like to say, Captain? No.
Dismissed.
If I may be candid, ma'am, I don't think there's a lawyer in our department who's more qualified.
I am not filling the position from within your department.
May I ask? I will be speaking to my choice as soon as we're done here.
How old are you? Thirty-three.
Have you ever had to struggle for anything? I am an officer.
I was summa cum laude at Carolina law school.
I'm not talking about hard work.
I'm talking about struggle.
I don't know, ma'am.
Might be good for you.
NEWSWOMAN: It was a dramatic scene today as, just one day after his acquittal for murder, Congressman Bobby Jones was arrested - on conspiracy charges.
- Lots of reporters.
Almost like somebody tipped them off.
Hmm.
News says Jones's party is already calling on him to resign.
We still got to put him away for conspiracy.
Uh, two of the guys in his platoon flipped the second we waved charges at them.
Game over.
You sank his battleship.
We sank his battleship.
Listen, uh, these next few months, I'm gonna come in early and handle your paperwork for you.
Early? You? Why would you do that? I want you to take two mornings a week and work on your biography.
I've watched you scrimp for years.
Carpools.
Bagged lunches.
Hideous domestic beers.
You sacrificed.
That shouldn't just go poof.
That's incredibly thoughtful of you.
Don't put me up for sainthood or anything.
I just want to read the story of Reeves Bass.
Bass Reeves.
That's why you need to write the book.
(KNOCK ON DOOR) As you were, Captain Abraham.
Major Ferry.
I'd like to speak to you in my office.
- Adam and three other Marines might have been forced at gunpoint to get into the back of a truck.
My lawyer's going to ask you to testify.
He thinks I can win a wrongful death suit.
This guy wants to sue the Corps? I put Noah Hewitt away.
Why can't Swillce just use that? My C.
O.
says it could end my career.
SWILLCE: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, - so help you God? - I do.
(MONITOR BEEPING) (MOANS SOFTLY) AMANDA: Are you all right? My name's Amanda.
I'm gonna stay with you.
Am I dying? That's a Bronze Star.
You were in combat.
I need to tell you something.
(CRYING): I should have stopped it.
I should have done something.
Stopped what? We shot him.
He shot him.
We watched.
I saw a murder.
MAYA: Ladies and gentlemen, I have often been called the Lumber King of Winston-Salem, and while I appreciate the compliment, I reject the title.
This is America.
We had a king, it didn't take.
I don't need a fancy title.
I just need your vote, so I can return to the State Senate as a paragon of the traditional values my opponent Matthew Dobbins sees fit to reject.
"Paragon"? - What? Is that an SAT word? - Yes.
Your brother asked you to help him with debate prep, right? Let's assume he wants you to portray his opponent convincingly.
I think I know how to gauge an audience.
I represented Spring Hill High at Nationals.
Did you do it while trying to embody a 60-year-old millionaire named Bryson? (PHONES CHIMING, VIBRATING) Did you just get an e-mail from the colonel's adjutant? Mm-hmm.
"Urgent.
Watch attached video ASAP.
" CAVELLO: We were on patrol.
An-Najaf.
Right before things got hairy in-country.
Our corpsman, Pierce, he stopped to help this Iraqi kid.
Pierce got shot.
Right in the neck.
DOA.
We rousted the building where the shot came from.
Pulled somebody who could have been the shooter, then argued about what to do with him.
The lieutenant, Jones, he walked up to the local we rousted.
Jones shot him in the head.
Christopher Cavello was honorably discharged in 2008.
He made that confession to a volunteer a few hours ago.
Lance Corporal Cavello died 90 minutes after making that video.
If what he says is true, legally speaking, it's admissible as a deathbed confession.
When did Cavello serve in Najaf? '04.
He was in the fight against the Mahdi Army.
And he served under a lieutenant named Robert Jones.
These are the Marines that were on patrol with Lance Corporal Cavello that day.
I want to get ahead of this.
Find them, see if anybody corroborates the story.
You're here because I told Senior Defense Counsel to assign an attorney to Cavello's estate.
His next of kin needs to be apprised of what to expect.
And this lieutenant? Robert Jones? We should hear what he has to say.
I say Major Ferry and I run down these enlisted guys.
Lieutenant Li, you can head up the search for Jones.
You two hunt down Lance Corporal Gustavo Antico, Staff Sergeant Blaise Morales, and I look for "Robert Jones"? That's right.
How many men named Robert Jones were in the Marine Corps in 2004, you think? More than a handful but less than a quorum? Captain Dobbins.
The Senior Defense Counsel needs you.
Apparently, there's a champagne toast in the offing.
It's not even 1000.
Lieutenant Colonel Talley? Looks like I missed the festivities.
One of the butterbars got it for me.
We kind of had to pop it.
Got it because? Right.
Come on in.
You can move those.
So, yeah.
I'm not gonna be Senior Defense Counsel anymore.
The Judicial Screening Board tapped me.
I'm gonna go be a judge for a while.
Congratulations, sir.
I've got cases to pass off.
I know you're already busy, but, uh You're giving me your entire caseload? How are the next few days? (LAUGHS SOFTLY) I'm going to North Carolina.
My brother? Debate prep? I-I reminded you two days ago.
Huh.
This is tricky.
Uh, maybe I can work something out.
That'd be great.
I appreciate it.
Oh, Captain.
I'm recommending you for Senior Defense Counsel.
What? It'll be Colonel Turnbull's decision, ultimately, but, uh, someone has to replace me, and you're the most qualified.
You should look happier.
You're ambitious.
I am happy, I'm just surprised.
To be honest, sir, I thought you considered us all interchangeable.
You're measurably less interchangeable than the rest.
(PHONE RINGS) MATT: Good morning, Dobbins campaign.
Good morning.
I was hoping to speak to the candidate.
Do you think such a thing is possible? What, you just call up and ask to talk to the guy in charge? My mama taught me it never hurts to ask.
Did your mom also teach you how to cope with disappointment? She always said to just go ahead and win, and then you can help the other fella cope.
Hmm.
Smart lady.
I can't come, Matty.
What? It's a long story.
My boss dumped - a bunch of stuff in my lap.
- (MATT SIGHS) I have exactly two things going for me with voters.
I got recruited to play point guard at half the schools in the ACC, and my little sister is the beautiful blue-eyed assassin of the United States Marine Corps.
- There's nothing I can do.
- Tell you what I'll come see you.
Well, my new place doesn't have a guest bedroom, so you and Neil have to sleep on the pullout.
Neil's gonna sit this one out.
You mind floating me a ticket? Turns out, underdog work - doesn't pay all that well.
- I'll show you my pay stub when you get here.
You sure you don't remember anything? That's well, due respect, that's a big blank spot.
Okay, thanks.
We'll be in touch if we need anything else.
Corporal Isham Kingman works I.
T.
for a company in Des Moines.
He remembers exactly nothing about September 3, 2004.
Whole day's just blank, huh? Convenient.
You can get rid of Bardon.
He hit an IED on his fifth deployment.
Semper Fi, PFC Bardon.
Can we get rid of this thing? I feel like the eyes follow me.
I've got a free life hack for you.
It turns out, if you're a former Marine Corps lieutenant named Robert Jones, one way to hide in plain sight is to use the name "Bobby.
" Cavello's former C.
O.
goes by "Bobby Jones" now? NARRATOR: Bobby Jones.
A name Indiana knows.
A name Indiana trusts.
TREY: That's the Bobby Jones we're looking for? He served in Iraq from '03 to '05.
It was a huge part of his first campaign.
Well, Christopher Cavello just accused the sitting congressman from Indiana's third district of murder.
NARRATOR: Bobby Jones.
A name Indiana knows.
A name Indiana trusts.
This is the Robert Jones we're looking for? We triple-checked.
Jones was the lieutenant in command of Christopher Cavello's platoon.
He resigned his commission as a captain 12 years ago.
Obviously, we retain jurisdiction over anything that happened while Jones was serving.
I am not going to refer charges based on Cavello's deathbed confession.
He was delirious, and I'm sure morphine was somewhere in the equation.
You need to get the other Marines in his unit to corroborate.
We could take a statement from Jones.
If it doesn't square with the other accounts of the day, we could make hay with that.
- Are you registered to vote? - Excuse me, ma'am? Is your address a matter of public record? Have you contributed to any political causes recently? Yes, to all of the above.
The moment Congressman Jones becomes aware that we are investigating his potential in a possible homicide, that we're invoking our jurisdiction over a Marine captain who has been back on the block for over a decade, a machine will kick into gear that is designed to protect that man, and the first thing it's going to do is take a nice long look at you.
What if I'm registered to the same party Jones is? - Are you? - You are? I don't want to know that.
And even if you are, that is not going to save you.
Are you a shining example of your party's values? The platonic ideal of all they hope for in a voter? I mean, I've been told I have good hair.
Wherever you fall short and you will they will find it, and they will build a narrative of bias around it.
Sound fun? Maybe interview the platoon guys for now? The former staff sergeant's local.
Morales.
- We can start there.
- Should I work the phones? Actually, Lieutenant Li, you're not on this.
- Ma'am? - You're from San Francisco.
That is practically a political stance of its own.
I'm sorry, Harper.
If this becomes a thing, you're a liability.
TREY: Yes, ma'am.
Uh, my wife and I have discussed it quite a bit.
We've been trying for almost two years now.
We're ready.
(CHUCKLES) Right uh, we're insured through the Marine Corps.
W-We understand that the treatments are out of pocket, but the brochure says there's a military discount.
Okay, great.
Uh, there's no actual price point in your literature.
That's with the discount? Okay.
Thank you very much.
Bye-bye now.
(SIGHS) What did Morales say? Well, he can tell you plenty about September 2, 2004.
He's positively expansive on the subject of September 4th.
- And the 3rd? - Total blank spot.
Fog of war.
These guys are hiding something.
If Gustavo Antico busts out, we can discuss next steps.
You're going with the fancy place.
Is the number about what you expected? (INHALES SHARPLY) You can't go through the Corps? I am not taking Nona to a student hospital for fertility treatments.
(ENGINE STARTS) ABE: Gustavo Antico? TICO: It's just "Tico.
" TREY: We're here to talk about Christopher Cavello, Lieutenant Robert Jones, and what happened September 3, 2004.
Cavello got sick a couple years ago, but then I kind of stopped hearing from him.
He was living on the street.
Homeless? I wish he would have reached out.
You guys were friends? Chris saved my life.
He saved most of our lives.
We didn't exactly have the best leadership.
He was a good Marine.
I don't care what happened after.
TREY: You say you didn't have the best leadership.
So? September 3, 2004? Is Chris telling the truth? Did your lieutenant shoot an Iraqi local that day? Man, that was a long time ago.
This was the last thing Christopher Cavello talked about.
You're really gonna let his dying words just disappear into the wind? If Isiah Crowley doesn't give us anything, that's the whole platoon.
Not the whole platoon.
The colonel said not to talk to Congressman Jones.
Due respect to Colonel Turnbull, but there have been changes to the informational landscape since she made that suggestion.
There's no new information.
We had nothing except Cavello's confession then, we got nothing but Cavello's confession now.
I'm not talking about new information.
I'm talking about changes to the informational landscape.
Trey, these guys are hiding something.
I know we can't prove it yet, but come on.
What changes with a visit to Jones? It's like Turnbull said, there's a playbook for this stuff.
If we go to Jones and tell him that we're looking at him for a shooting based on the testimony of Christopher Cavello, what's the first thing Jones and his advisors are gonna do? Smear Cavello, make sure the confession doesn't stick.
And how do you think that's gonna sit with Tico? You want to provoke an attack against Cavello to get Tico to tell the truth? It works or it doesn't.
What do we got to lose? Were you in that meeting with the colonel? Trey, if Bobby Jones wasn't in Congress, if he was just some guy who maybe committed cold-blooded murder, what would we do then? MAYA: My opponent has me clean licked when it comes to social media and web pages and the like.
He understands these things better than I do.
What he doesn't understand is what makes North Carolina operate.
He doesn't know Carteret County.
He doesn't know Hoke County.
If it happens outside of Raleigh-Durham, Matthew Dobbins doesn't want to know about it.
Wow, you're more articulate than Bryson Culler on his best day, and you need to grow out your jowls if you really want to capture his likeness, - but the message, dead-on.
- Thanks.
I grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, practicing my jump shot at the park down by the granite quarry.
When Andy Griffith needed a place to set his television show, he based it on my hometown.
So, I have to ask: if I'm such a cosmopolitan, how is it that I'm literally from Mayberry? My opponent - has spent more time in Raleigh - (PHONE CHIMING, VIBRATING) in the last year alone than Sorry, your phone.
I got it.
It's fine.
Keep going.
Right.
My opponent has spent more time in - Sorry, just, uh - Matt, come on.
- Just give me a sec.
- That was on point.
(SIGHS) Do you mind putting your phone in here? Just so no one can listen in.
You brought a Faraday bag to my apartment? Look who got a badge in electromagnetics.
My people say we can't be too careful.
- Your "people"? - Yeah.
Your campaign is Addison from law school - and ten volunteers.
- You're doing it.
- Doing what? - You're making a thing out of it.
(SIGHS) I'll be right back.
Does he really need that? No one's spying on us.
JONES: What can I do for you gentlemen? A Marine who served under your command passed away yesterday.
Christopher Cavello? I heard Cavello was sick, but no one could find him.
Two hours before he died, he recorded a statement claiming he witnessed a murder in An-Najaf.
What kind of murder? Cavello said his platoon commander shot an Iraqi in the head on September 3, 2004.
That's you, Congressman Jones.
Yeah, I'm aware of that, Major.
I mean, he's wrong, of course.
The only Iraqis I killed were the enemy.
And you're confident the other members of your platoon would say the same thing? You're taking this seriously? Cavello's statement was a deathbed confession.
This is due diligence.
(SIGHS) Of course, they'll say the same thing.
Cavello was struggling, right? He was living on the street before he died, yes.
Alcohol? Drugs? We don't know.
I don't know if Cavello was manipulated by someone with an agenda, or if he had a mental health thing going on.
I'll pray for him tonight either way.
But, guys there's nothing to see here.
(PHONE RINGING) GLEN (OVER INTERCOM): Sorry to bother you again, ma'am.
It's the ACMC's adjutant.
Apparently, they want an upda He will get a report in due course.
Glen, no calls means no calls.
I told you, do not talk to Jones.
Strictly speaking, ma'am, you advised us that it wouldn't be in our best interest to go see him.
And why did you ignore my advice? We didn't.
We only went to see Congressman Jones after there were certain changes in the informational landscape.
Did you just say "informational landscape"? He sure did.
(PHONE RINGS) Glen, I said no calls.
GLEN: Actually, it came in through Major Ferry's office.
Someone named Gustavo Antico? He says it has to do with the shooting.
- We'll take it.
- Put him through.
Tico.
- Hey, are you there? - TICO: I'm here.
They're saying Chris was crazy.
That's wrong.
He was my friend.
Who's saying that? Jones, and one of the other guys from my platoon.
They're gonna smear Cavello's name so this dies straight away.
I'm not gonna let 'em.
Is there something you want to tell us, Tico? Lieutenant Jones, Congressman Jones Jones killed that man.
Shot him right in the head.
Okay, thank you, Tico.
Apprehend Congressman Jones.
And be ready for what comes next.
Good afternoon, Captain Abraham.
Major Ferry asked me to tell you that he's already started witness prep with Gustavo Antico.
Thank you, Rami.
You may want to, uh, brace yourself before you join him.
Brace myself for what, the prospect of walking into my workplace? Who's the sparring partner? RAMI: That's Colonel Wesley Riggle.
He's the current commander of Congressman Jones's former battalion.
Which, of course, makes him the convening authority in any potential court-martial.
And Colonel Riggle is less than enthusiastic about referring charges against a sitting congressman for something that happened 15 years ago? I can't hear what they're saying, but at no point in the last 20 minutes has the colonel appeared to be anything but truculent.
I'd have gone with "bellicose" myself.
I considered bellicose, sir.
In my opinion, there are subtle differences.
We got two witnesses.
There's no way the convening authority invokes his right to kill the court-martial.
I agree that it would be an unusual step, but Colonel Riggle seems unusually truculent.
When I said brace yourself, sir, I meant to prepare for the possibility that there's no case at all.
You are going to court-martial.
I'm impressed.
That didn't look like two people coming to an agreement.
Colonel Riggle was very curious about my voting record.
Why does that keep coming up? Congressman Jones either murdered this guy or he didn't.
Hmm.
Welcome to 2019, Captain Abraham.
We'll leave the light on for you in case you decide to stay.
I pushed it through by reminding the colonel that as convening authority, he gets to appoint both the judge and the members of the panel.
He has considerable influence over potential proceedings.
So you reminded him that he could put his thumb on the scale and make our jobs as hard as he wants to.
Be glad you got that much.
He came here to kill the whole thing.
How's your case? The victim, Kadir Fa'iz, his death is officially listed as accidental, but there are no details other than that.
That's fishy, so Trey and I can make some hay there.
Cavello's confession hits hard, you've seen it.
Once the fireworks show starts, it'll be him and Gustavo Antico versus the other members of the platoon.
And how does Lance Corporal Antico stack up as a witness? Well, he has trouble staying on script.
I had to keep reminding him to call the victim by name, and he gets defensive any time I try to give him guidance.
Hopefully it's jitters.
If he's nervous here, it's gonna be worse on the stand.
And Congressman Jones has hired private counsel.
You'll be going up against Martin DeWitt.
Yes, it's nice to have friends with money.
(KNOCKING) You're here late.
You took over Colonel Talley's caseload, right? Can we talk about the charges against Lieutenant Thomas Sinclair? Dereliction of duty, failure to obey an order, insubordination, and a later charge of adultery.
Ten percenter? That's what I thought at first, but everyone says he's outstanding.
So I dug some more.
Turns out he was having an affair, with the wife of his captain, who's his direct report.
I confirmed it.
So you're saying all these other charges are a vendetta? (PHONE CHIMING, VIBRATING) Do you need to get that? No idea who it is.
How did you ask a captain, without being insubordinate, if his wife was sleeping around? I did something harder.
I went to the wife.
I think we can find a way to handle this with NJP.
Thank you, ma'am.
Lieutenant Li.
Would you say they appreciate your talents upstairs? You don't have to answer, but I do want you to think about it.
Talley is recommending me to take over as Senior Defense Counsel.
You're good, Harper.
I want to put you to work on the defense side.
Wow.
(PHONE CHIMING, VIBRATING) Like I said, think about it.
We'll talk.
Hello? MATT (OVER PHONE): Are we doing this? Matty? Addison ran out to get food, but I start fading about an hour after dinner.
I told you I had to work late.
What's with the local number? I, uh, lost track of my cell.
Really? Because you didn't have it the other day when I called your office either.
- Did you get rid of your phone? - No.
Remind me what meds you're taking now.
- Maya, come on.
- Come on, yourself, Matty.
The Faraday bag, the burner phones.
You're acting like the bad old days.
You're right.
I've been tense.
I fell back on some of my old stuff, but I know there's no one - watching me.
- What's your medication? Risperidone.
Vortioxetine.
- And are you taking it? - Yes, I'm taking it.
- Are you coming or what? - Don't worry.
We'll get your full session of prep.
Welcome to Quantico, Mr.
DeWitt.
Thank you, Your Honor.
It's a privilege to have an attorney of your stature with us.
Now let's discuss this brief.
The official font of this courtroom is Helvetica 12, not Times New Roman, and not, as you seem to believe, Courier.
Why Courier? The convening authority stacked the deck against us by picking Pace? - Yeah, why? - Nothing, it's just not so long ago, we weren't supposed to ask or tell on the subject of Major Pace.
Log Cabin.
Pace is married to a baritone, but his politics are as old-school as it gets.
Comment, Captain Abraham? Just remarking how much I appreciate the clean lines of Helvetica, Your Honor.
To the members of the panel, you are to consider all the evidence, which doesn't mean you must necessarily believe all the evidence.
You need not, for example, consider a deathbed recording more credible than testimony that unfolds here before you.
Why not just call Cavello a liar? TICO: We dragged Fa'iz out of the building.
Everybody was mad about the corpsman that got shot, but Cavello was shouting at us not to kill Fa'iz.
Lieutenant Jones ordered us back to the Humvee, but some of the guys didn't move.
When I turned to go, I heard a shot, I turned back.
Lieutenant Jones still had his weapon drawn.
Fa'iz was dead.
TREY: Is there any doubt in your mind that Captain Jones shot Kadir Fa'iz? No, sir.
Absolutely none.
Tico did good.
Let's hope he sticks to the script on cross.
It's only the ball game.
Mr.
Antico, I want you to be clear and precise, so there's no confusion for the court.
Did you see Captain Jones shoot the enemy combatant? Objection.
The victim was a human being named Kadir Fa'iz.
It was never established that he was an enemy combatant.
I'll rephrase, Your Honor.
Did you see Captain Jones shoot the Iraqi national? No, sir.
I see.
And at any point during your service or after, did you hear Lance Corporal Cavello complain about his commanding officer? - Of course.
- So that's a yes.
And is it fair to say that Lance Corporal Cavello had a grudge against Captain Jones? Mr.
Antico? I guess.
So Christopher Cavello, a man of questionable character, living on the streets, lobs an accusation against Bobby Jones, member of Congress, a man who's had the success in life that Cavello never did, and you backed Cavello's play.
Mm.
Why? Chris Cavello respected the chain of command.
He respected the Corps.
(QUIETLY): Stick to the script, Tico.
TICO: Cavello got sick, and he fell through the cracks.
His character wasn't questionable.
Please answer the question, Mr.
Antico.
I'm answering your question.
I backed Cavello's play because he was a good Marine and a man of God.
If Christopher Cavello said he saw Robert Jones shoot Kadir Fa'iz, that is exactly what happened.
And you dishonor the sacrifices that Christopher Cavello made for this country when you try to drag his name down into the political mud.
Your client murdered someone.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Did I say, "Stick to the script, Tico"? Because I meant, "Do whatever it is you just did.
" Government rests, Your Honor.
Mr.
DeWitt? (CLEARS THROAT) Mr.
DeWitt.
Can we trouble you to present a case? Your Honor, we request a short recess.
My name is Blaise Morales.
I am I was the staff sergeant with the congressman's platoon in 2004.
DEWITT: And you were on patrol with him September 3rd of that year? BLAISE: I was.
Can you tell me what happened after your corpsman was shot? Our rifleman fired an M203 into the house where the shot came from.
We went in, and a couple of us carried an Iraqi local out.
I thought this guy didn't remember anything.
This man has been identified as Kadir Fa'iz.
Now, why did you carry him? His right leg was blown off.
He was bleeding real bad.
He begged us, begged for mercy.
That's why the lieutenant did it.
- Objection.
- DEWITT: Did what? That's why he shot Kadir Fa'iz.
(GALLERY MURMURING) (GAVEL BANGING) Mr.
DeWitt, the documents I saw none of which were submitted in the correct font, by the way described witnesses who couldn't remember anything about the incident in question.
Yes, Your Honor.
On reflection, some details became clear to Mr.
Morales.
Details that just happen to plant the concept of a mercy killing in the panel's mind? The government's central witness was obviously more compelling than Mr.
DeWitt expected him to be, so now he's trying this bad-faith pivot.
Mr.
Morales had a sudden rush of memory.
- It happens.
- Your Honor, there's no court in the free world that considers mercy a defense for murder.
Correct, Captain Abraham, and I plan to instruct the panel to that effect.
Due respect, Your Honor, but your instructions may not matter.
The defense clearly anticipated your reaction, just as they clearly anticipated that a panel of Marines are going to be reluctant to convict an officer for a so-called mercy killing 15 years after the fact.
That is textbook panel nullification.
They bring in a verdict of "not guilty" based on evidence they were instructed to ignore, and the defense's pursuit of this calls for a new slate of members to hear this proceeding.
- Oh, that's ridiculous.
- PACE: Quiet! All of you.
We're not gathering a new panel.
Would you ask your client if he will agree to a waiver to the statute of limitations? The statute of limitations on what? Manslaughter? You're laying the path for the panel to convict on a lesser included offense.
If you're concerned the panel won't convict Congressman Jones of murder, why not give them the option to convict of manslaughter? Because Bobby Jones murdered someone.
And if you present the panel with a lesser option at this stage, that's practically begging them to take it.
It's either that or you take your chances with a panel nullification.
Mr.
DeWitt? I feel certain that, under the circumstances, my client will grant a waiver.
Matt.
I don't want to get weird, but I'm starting to get worried.
- You okay? Matt? - I'm fine, Maya.
Sheesh.
Maybe I should get a hotel room next time.
Of course not, I'm just checking on you.
I'm kidding.
I can't afford a hotel room anyway.
Oh, Addison had to go back to Winston-Salem.
- She said to say thanks.
- Matt.
Your mouth.
Damn it.
- What did you do? - Nothing, it's just Matt, what were you doing in there? My filling, it's metal.
It's just, you know, signals.
You pried your filling out? I couldn't get it loose.
I I'm sorry.
Oh, my God, Matty.
Here.
She said the tooth's gonna be fine.
I barely got at the filling.
I quit my pills to get ready for the debate.
I'm I don't know, I'm just sharper when I don't take them.
No, you were doing fine with them.
Look where you are.
I know.
It's just It's like looking at the world through gauze.
You just want to see things clearly now and then.
They don't know at the campaign.
You gonna tell Addison? What's gonna happen to me? - Nothing from the panel yet? - Uh, still deliberating.
You know, if they go into tomorrow morning, I might need you to cover for me in court.
Nona and I have a consult at the Bristow clinic.
The, uh, fertility place? You're pulling the trigger? Yeah, we have enough saved up for one cycle.
Barely.
I'm impressed.
All my extra cash is, uh, tied up in retirement stuff.
Yeah, I have a, uh I don't know rainy day fund.
I was planning to request leave.
Request leave? A court rat like you? - (CHUCKLES) - I love it here.
I just finally wanted to write that biography.
Wow, um Bass Reeves.
Who is that guy again? First black U.
S.
marshal west of the Mississippi.
- That's right.
- Caught over 3,000 felons.
Some people think he was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger.
(SIGHS) Feels like if I don't get started on it soon, it stays a pipe dream forever.
It's a great story.
I'd read it.
You okay? Giving it up? I want to be a dad.
(PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) The panel's got a verdict.
This court finds Congressman Jones, on the charge of murder, not guilty.
On the charge of involuntary manslaughter - guilty.
- (GALLERY MURMURING) - We are adjourned until tomorrow.
- (GAVEL BANGS) TREY: We should take the win is all I'm saying.
ABE: Win.
Jones will probably get a de minimus sentence.
He might not even do any time.
He won't be running for president any time soon, and we just convicted a sitting congressman using the testimony of a dead man and a guy who wears a name tag all day.
Take the win.
Then so be it.
We got the best outcome considering we just took down a sitting U.
S.
congress That was a courtesy call from Colonel Riggle.
He is invoking his authority to set aside the decision.
What? He's overturning the verdict? Convening authorities don't do that.
They don't.
But they can.
I will fight this, but as of now, Congressman Jones is walking away a free man.
(PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) (PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) (PHONE RINGING) (PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES) (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) I hear you're waiting to see me.
Yes, sir.
Captain John Abraham.
Prosecutor on the Robert Jones case.
What do you want, Captain Abraham? I, uh, came to offer my services, sir.
Great.
Wrangle me up some cardboard boxes so I can pack.
I'm talking about the court-martial.
I came to see if there's anything I can clarify for you.
I have my staff judge advocate to advise me.
The facts are clear.
Anything else? You do quite a bit of fund-raising for Congressman Jones's party.
Excuse me? I'm just trying to understand what happened.
A convening authority hasn't invoked the command prerogative in years.
I am perfectly within my rights, Captain.
And you are insubordinate.
I'm referring you for an NJP.
You want brig time, keep talking.
Dismissed.
Actually, Captain, I will take you up on your offer.
To help.
I need, oh, I don't know, ten cardboard boxes.
Get them for me, ASAP.
I filed the paperwork on Jones.
Thanks.
I'm Oscar Mike.
See you tomorrow.
Did you know Colonel Riggle was in Al Asad in '04? Same theater as Najaf.
So? Abe, the case is over.
I've got the order of battle for September 3, 2004.
There were other units operating in the area.
We had our bite at the apple.
Abe, you can't try Jones for murder twice.
The Rangers went through.
Another unit from 2/6 Abe, you're throwing haymakers after the ref called the fight.
I know that, but Congressman Jones is lying.
There's got to be something here that shows that.
(SIGHS) Thought you were leaving.
I grew up by Fort Sumter.
I have a weakness for lost causes.
It's gonna be a couple weeks before your meds kick back in.
Someone should be with you.
You can stay here.
I'm in the middle of a campaign.
I I can't take time off.
It's gonna be okay, Maya.
I'm gonna stage an epic comeback and unseat the Lumber King.
You're gonna take over the world.
Starting with the defense attorney's office of the Judge Advocate Division.
(SIGHS) We're good, kid.
(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS) (KNOCKING ON DOOR) Good morning, Colonel.
Major Ferry and I brought extra boxes.
Just wanted to make sure you had enough.
I'm fine.
You can leave them by the door, I guess.
Major Ferry, did you know that in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, we used Polish special forces guys pretty much whenever we needed snipers? I read about that.
Different rules of engagement, right? Guys, you don't have to put the boxes together.
Oh, we don't mind.
That's exactly right.
Polish snipers could shoot at people we couldn't.
We'd use American spotters to tell them who to shoot, and then they'd do the actual shooting.
Are you guys listening? You're done here.
According to the order of battle, there was a Polish sniper stationed on a rooftop in Najaf on September 3, 2004.
Right down the street from where Kadir Fa'iz got shot.
Interesting.
- Must have been quite a view.
- Mm.
- Shut the door.
- (DOOR CLOSES) That's Sergeant Wojslaw Nowitski.
He saw everything that happened through his scope.
He saw Bobby Jones kill Kadir Fa'iz.
You two are in violation of Article 89 of the UCMJ, disrespect toward a superior officer.
I'm having you both apprehended right now.
Fa'iz surrendered to Jones, put both hands in the air, but Jones just shot him in the head.
It was murder.
Bobby Jones takes care of the Marine Corps in Congress.
- Our budget - Bobby Jones was a terrible Marine.
Stumbled his way through his commission while his staff sergeant ran the show.
And now he wants to ruin the name of a Marine - who actually did his job? - This is over.
You can't try Jones for murder again.
If you charge him with anything else, he'll have the same convening authority me.
Polish GROM submitted a report of what Nowitski saw.
Do you recognize the signature of the officer who received this statement? Wesley Riggle, Major, USMC.
You were the liaison to multinational forces at Division in Al Asad.
Why'd you bury that report, sir? I didn't bury anything.
We were fighting a war.
So it wasn't intentional, you were just ineffective in command? Watch your tone, Captain.
I'm not on trial here.
Not yet.
Sir.
As for Jones, he instructed the men he commanded to lie under oath.
You'll be busy defending yourself in court.
So we'll be getting a different convening authority when we charge him with conspiracy.
A 134 carrying a concealed weapon; another 134 for impersonating an officer; one misprision of a serious offense; two 89s And a partridge in a pear tree.
That's the last of Talley's caseload.
Thank you, Captain.
You are an outstanding attorney.
I wanted to tell you that, despite Lieutenant Colonel Talley's recommendation, I'm going in a different direction for Senior Defense Counsel.
As I said, you are an asset to your department, and I fully expect you to take on a leadership role at some point.
I would like to see you grow as a manager before you do.
Is there something that you would like to say, Captain? No.
Dismissed.
If I may be candid, ma'am, I don't think there's a lawyer in our department who's more qualified.
I am not filling the position from within your department.
May I ask? I will be speaking to my choice as soon as we're done here.
How old are you? Thirty-three.
Have you ever had to struggle for anything? I am an officer.
I was summa cum laude at Carolina law school.
I'm not talking about hard work.
I'm talking about struggle.
I don't know, ma'am.
Might be good for you.
NEWSWOMAN: It was a dramatic scene today as, just one day after his acquittal for murder, Congressman Bobby Jones was arrested - on conspiracy charges.
- Lots of reporters.
Almost like somebody tipped them off.
Hmm.
News says Jones's party is already calling on him to resign.
We still got to put him away for conspiracy.
Uh, two of the guys in his platoon flipped the second we waved charges at them.
Game over.
You sank his battleship.
We sank his battleship.
Listen, uh, these next few months, I'm gonna come in early and handle your paperwork for you.
Early? You? Why would you do that? I want you to take two mornings a week and work on your biography.
I've watched you scrimp for years.
Carpools.
Bagged lunches.
Hideous domestic beers.
You sacrificed.
That shouldn't just go poof.
That's incredibly thoughtful of you.
Don't put me up for sainthood or anything.
I just want to read the story of Reeves Bass.
Bass Reeves.
That's why you need to write the book.
(KNOCK ON DOOR) As you were, Captain Abraham.
Major Ferry.
I'd like to speak to you in my office.