A Few Good Men Page #19

DAWSON just stares at him.

KAFFEE:

(continuing)

Do it, Harold. Six months. It's

nothing. It's a hockey season.

DAWSON:

Permission to --

KAFFEE:

Speak!

DAWSON:

What do we do then, sir?

KAFFEE:

When?

DAWSON:

After six months. We'd be dishonorably

discharged, right sir?

KAFFEE:

Yes.

DAWSON:

What do we do then, sir? We joined

the corps 'cause we wanted to live

our lives by a certain code. And we

found it in the corps. And now you're

asking us to sign a piece of paper

that says we have no honor. You're

asking us to say we're not marines.

If a judge and jury decide that what

we did was wrong, I'll accept whatever

punishment they give. But I believe

I was riqht, sir. I believe I did my

job. And I won't dishonor myself, my

unit, or the Corps, so that I can qo

home in six months.

(beat)

Sir.

HOLD ON the four of them for a moment, then

KAFFEE:

Commander, I want to talk to corporal

Dawson alone for a minute.

Jo waits Just a moment before she calls out --

JO:

(to Downey)

Let's go in another room. Louden,

everything's gonna be alright.

The M.P. has shown up and unlocked the cell door.

JO:

(continuing; to M.P.)

We're gonna go into a holding room.

M.P.

Aye, aye, ma'am.

JO, DOWNEY, and the M.P. are gone. KAFFEE paces a moment

before he says --

KAFFEE:

You don't like me that much, do you?

(beat)

Forget it, don't answer that, it

doesn't matter.

KAFFEE paces another moment, then sits on the cot. He's trying

to choose his tack carefully.

KAFFEE:

(continuing)

You know, Downey worships you. He's

gonna do whatever you do. Are you

really gonna let this happen to him

because of a code? Harold?

DAWSON:

Do you think we were right?

KAFFEE:

It doesn't matter what I --

DAWSON:

Do you think we were right?

KAFFEE gets up.

KAFFEE:

(beat)

I think you'd lose.

DAWSON:

(beat)

You're such a coward, I can't believe

they let you wear a uniform.

KAFFEE stares at DAWSON.

KAFFEE:

I'm not gonna feel responsible for

this, Harold. I did everything I

could. You're going to Levenworth

for the better part of your life,

and you know what? I don't give a

sh*t.

KAFFEE calls out --

KAFFEE:

(continuing)

M.P.!

KAFFEE and DAWSON are staring each other down. The M.P. shows

up and unlocks the cell door. KAFFEE steps out to leave.

KAFFEE:

(continuing)

What happened to saluting an officer

when he leaves the room?

DAWSON holds on KAFFEE. Then DAWSON, a man who would rather

die than breach military protocol, takes his hands and puts

them in his pockets.

The cell door closes and we

CUT TO:

INT. THE OFFICE CORRIDOR - NIGHT

One light is on at the end of the hall.

CUT TO:

SAM has joined KAFFEE and JO. The mood is somber.

KAFFEE:

Dawson's gonna go to jail just to

spite me. Fine. If he wants to jump

off a cliff, that's his business.

I'm not gonna hold his hand on the

way down.

(to SAM)

I want to get him a new lawyer. How

do I do it?

SAM:

You just make a motion tomorrow

morning at the arraignment. The

judge'll ask you if you want to enter

a plea. You tell him you want new

counsel assigned.

KAFFEE:

(beat)

Then that's that.

JO:

(beat)

Yeah. One thing, though. When you

ask the judge for new counsel, Danny,

be sure and ask nicely.

KAFFEE:

What do you want from me?

JO:

I want you to let 'em be judged! I

want you to stand up and make an

argument!

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