A Few Good Men Page #30

HOWARD:

Yes sir.

KAFFEE:

Why didn't you?

HOWARD:

'Cause Dawson'd kick my butt, sir.

KAFFEE:

Good enough. Lt. Ross is gonna ask

you some questions now.

ROSS takes three books out of his briefcase and puts them on

the table. He brings one to HOWARD.

ROSS:

Corporal Howard, I hold here The

Marine Guide and General Information

Handbook for New Recruits. Are you

familiar with this book?

HOWARD:

Yes sir.

ROSS:

Have you read it?

HOWARD:

Yes sir.

ROSS:

Good.

(hands him the book)

Would you turn to the chapter that

deals with code reds, please.

HOWARD:

Sir?

ROSS:

Just flip to the page in that book

that discusses code reds.

HOWARD:

Sir, you see, Code Red is a term we

use -- it's just used down at GITMO,

sir. I don't know if it actually --

ROSS has produced another book.

ROSS:

We're in luck, then. The Marine Corps

Guide for Sentry Duty, NAVY BASE

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I assume we'll

find the term code red and its

definition in this book, am I correct?

HOWARD:

No sir.

ROSS:

No? Corporal Howard, I'm a marine.

Is their no book, no manual or

pamphlet, no set of orders or

regulations that let me know that,

as a marine, one of my duties is to

perform code reds?

HOWARD:

(pause)

No sir. No books, sir.

ROSS:

No further questions.

ROSS sits. KAFFEE walks over to ROSS's table and picks up

one of the books. He brings it to HOWARD.

KAFFEE:

Corporal, would you turn to the page

in this book that says where the

enlisted men's mess hall is?

HOWARD:

Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book,

sir.

KAFFEE:

I don't understand, how did you know

where the enlisted men's mess hall

was if it's not in this book?

HOWARD:

I guess I just followed the crowd at

chow time, sir.

KAFFEE:

No more questions.

KAFFEE chucks the book back on ROSS's desk.

RANDOLPH:

Corporal Howard, you can step down.

HOWARD:

(greatly relieved)

Thank you, sir.

KAFFEE gives HOWARD a subtle "You Did Good, Kid" look, and

we

CUT TO:

INT. THE COURTHOUSE CORRIDOR - DUSK

It's the end of the day's session. KAFFEE walks down the

hall with SAM and JO.

KAFFEE:

Seven tonight, we'll do a final

Kendrick review. I want to slam-

dunk this guy.

CUT TO:

EXT. SIDEWALK STAND - NIGHT

KAFFEE'S CAR

as it drives along a street in the D.C. business district.

it's evening now and the windshield wipers are fighting

against a rain KAFFEE pulls over at his usual newsstand. He

hops out, leaving the lights flashing and the door open, and

runs to the stand.

KAFFEE:

Hey, Luther.

LUTHER:

Admiral, how's the big case goin'?

KAFFEE:

Nose to the grindstone.

LUTHER:

No flies on you.

KAFFEE:

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

LUTHER:

Yeah, well it ain't over til the fat

lady sings.

KAFFEE:

Ain't that the truth. Catch you

tomorrow.

He gets back in his car, tosses the newspaper on the passenger

seat, and turns on the ignition. And as soon as he does

-- a hand is slapped over his mouth --

VOICE (O.S.)

It's Matthew Markinson.

-- and KAFFEE jumps out of his skin.

Because sitting in the back seat, in civilian clothes, is

MARKINSON.

KAFFEE:

Jesus f***ing Christ!!--

MARKINSON:

You left the door unlocked.

KAFFEE:

Scared the sh*t outta me.

MARKINSON:

Drive.

KAFFEE:

Are you aware you're under subpoena?

MARKINSON:

Yes. I'm also aware that the lives

of two marines are in your hands. If

there was something I could do about

that, I would, but since I can't,

all I can do is help you. Why don't

you drive, Lieutenant.

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