A Few Good Men Page #18

ROSS:

What exactly are you accusing me of,

commander?

JO:

I'm accusing you of --

They're in the

LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT

and KAFFEE slams the door shut behind them.

KAFFEE:

Jack didn't know about the order.

Because if he did and he hadn't told

us, Jack knows he'd be violating

about 14 articles of the code of

ethics. As it is, he's got enough to

worry about. God forbid our clients

decide to plead not guilty and testify

for the record that they were given

an order.

ROSS:

Kendrick specifically told the men

not to touch Santiago.

KAFFEE:

That's right. And then he went into

Dawson and Downey's room and

specifically told them to give him a

code red.

ROSS:

That's not what Kendrick said.

KAFFEE:

Kendrick's lying.

ROSS:

You have proof?

KAFFEE:

I have the defendants.

ROSS:

And I have 23 marines who aren't

accused of murder and a lieutenant

with four letters of commendation.

KAFFEE:

Why did Markinson resign his

commission?

ROSS:

We'll never know.

KAFFEE:

You don't think I can subpoena

Markinson.

ROSS:

You can try, but you won't find him.

You know what Markinson did for the

first 17 of his 21 years in the corps?

Counter Intelligence. Markinson's

gone. There is no Markinson.

Some of the wind has been taken Out of Kaffee's sails.

ROSS:

(continuing)

Jessep's star is on the rise.

Division'll give me a lot of room to

spare Jessep and the corps any

embarrassment.

KAFFEE:

How much room?

ROSS:

I'll knock it all down to assault.

Two years. They're home in six months.

JO:

No deal, we're going to a jury.

KAFFEE:

Jo --

ROSS:

No you're not.

JO:

Why not?

ROSS:

'Cause you'll lose, and Danny knows

it. And he knows that if we go to

court, I'll have to go all the way,

they'll be charged with the whole

truckload. Murder, Conspiracy, Conduct

Unbecoming, and even though he's got

me by the balls out here, Dan knows

that in a courtroom, he loses this

case. Danny's an awfully talented

lawyer, and he's not about to send

his clients go to jail for life when

he knows they could be home in six

months.

This is now clear: Ross is as good as Kaffee.

ROSS:

(continuing)

That's the end of this negotiation.

From this moment, we're on the record.

I'll see tomorrow morning at the

arraignment.

ROSS turns and heads back to the gym as we

CUT TO:

INT. A HOLDING ROOM - NIGHT

Kaffee and JO are sitting at a table. Dawson and Downey are

at parade rest. Kaffee lights a cigarette.

KAFFEE:

Here's the story: The Goverment's

offering Assault and Conduct

Unbecoming. Two years. You'll be

home in six months.

DAWSON and DOWNEY say nothing.

KAFFEE:

(continuing)

"Wow, Kaffee, you're the greatest

lawyer in the world. How can we ever

thank you?" Fellas, you hear what I

just said, you're going home in six

months.

DAWSON:

I'm afraid we can't do that, sir.

KAFFEE:

Do what?

DAWSON:

Make a deal, sir.

KAFFEE:

What are you talking about?

DAWSON:

We did nothing wrong, sir. We did

our job. If that has consequences,

then I accept them. But'I won't say

I'm guilty, sir.

KAFFEE can't believe this. He looks over at JO.

KAFFEE:

Did you --

(to DAWSON and DOWNEY)

Did she put you up to this?

JO:

No.

DAWSON:

We have a code, sir.

KAFFEE:

Well zippity-doo-dah. You and your

code plead not guilty and you'll be

in jail for the rest of your life.

Do what I'm telling you and you'll

be home in six months.

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