A Few Good Men Page #33

KENDRICK:

That's fine.

KAFFEE:

Lance Corporal Dawson's ranking after

Infantry Training School was perfect.

Records indicate that over half that

class has since been promoted to

full corporal, while Dawson has

remained a lance corporal. Was

Dawson's promotion held up because

of this last fitness report.

KENDRICK:

I'm sure it was.

KAFFEE:

Do you recall why Dawson was given

such a poor grade on this report?

KENDRICK:

I'm sure I don't. I have many men in

my charge, Lieutenant, I write many

fitness reports.

KAFFEE:

Do you recall an incident involving

a PFC Curtis Barnes who'd been found

stealing liquor from the Officer's

Club?

KENDRICK:

Yes.

KAFFEE:

Did you report private Barnes to the

proper authorities?

KENDRICK:

I have two books at my bedside,

Lieutenant, the Marine Code of Conduct

and the King James Bible. The only

proper authorities I'm aware of are

my Commanding Officer, Colonel Nathan

R. Jessep and the Lord our God.

KAFFEE:

Lt. Kendrick, at your request, I can

have the record reflect your lack of

acknowledgment of this court as a

proper authority.

ROSS:

Objection. Argumentative.

RANDOLPH:

Sustained.

(to KAFFEE)

Watch yourself, counselor.

KAFFEE:

Did you report Private Barnes to

your superiors?

KENDRICK:

I remember thinking very highly of

Private Barnes, and not wanting to

see his record tarnished by a formal

charge.

KAFFEE:

You preferred it to be handled within

the unit.

KENDRICK:

I most certainly did.

KAFFEE:

Lieutenant, do you know what a Code

Red is?

KENDRICK:

Yes I do.

KAFFEE:

Have you ever ordered a code red?

KENDRICK:

No, I have not.

KAFFEE:

Lieutenant, did you order Dawson and

two other men to make sure that

Private Barnes receive no food or

drink except water for a period of

seven days?

KENDRICK:

That's a distortion of the truth.

Private Barnes was placed on barracks

restriction. He was given water and

vitamin supplements, and I assure

you that at no time was his health

in danger.

KAFFEE:

I'm sure it was lovely for Private

Barnes, but you did order the barracks

restriction, didn't you? And you did

order the denial of food.

KENDRICK:

Yes.

KAFFEE:

Wouldn't this form of discipline be

considered a code red?

KENDRICK:

(beat)

Not necessarily.

KAFFEE:

If I called the other 8000 men at

Guantanamo Bay to testify, would

they consider it a Code Red?

ROSS:

Please the court, the witness can't

possibly testify as to what 8000

other men would say. We object to

this entire line of questioning as

argumentative and irrelevant badgering

of the witness.

RANDOLPH:

The Government's objection is

sustained, Lt. Kaffee, and I would

remind you that you're now questioning

marine officer with an impeccable

service record.

ROSS:

Thank you judge.

KAFFEE looks over at DAWSON. They share a brief moment before

KAFFEE turns back to KENDRICK.

KAFFEE:

Lieutenant, was Dawson given a rating

of Below Average on this last fitness

report because you learned held been

sneaking food to Private Barnes?

(to ROSS)

Not so fast.

(to KENDRICK)

Lieutenant?

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