A Few Good Men Page #35

MARKINSON says nothing. But his face says that KAFFEE was

born yesterday.

KAFFEE:

(continuing; beat)

He made an entire flight disappear?

MARKINSON:

Nathan Jessep is about to be named

Director of Operations for the

National Security Council. You don't

get to that position without knowing

how to side-step a few land mines.

(beat)

And putting me on the stand isn't

gonna make him step on one.

KAFFEE stares at him.

Then shakes his head, sighs, and picks the log book up off

the table, and heads for the door.

KAFFEE:

You're taking the stand. Thursday.

KAFFEE leaves.

HOLD on MARKINSON.

CUT TO:

INT. KAFFEE'S APARTMENT

KAFFEE'S APARTMENT later that night and SAM and J0 have just

heard the report him.

KAFFEE:

There's gotta be someone who can

testify to the flight. A ground crew

member. Someone.

SAM:

Do you have any idea how many planes

take off and land every day? A kid

from the ground crew isn't gonna

remember a flight that landed four

weeks ago.

KAFFEE:

Forget the flight. We'll put Markinson

on the stand and we'll deal with

Jessep's refusal to transfer Santiago

and he'll testify to the forged

transfer order. That'll be enough.

That and Downey's testimony really

oughta be enough.

CUT TO:

INT. THE HOLDING ROOM - DAY

Jo is working with DOWNEY. He sits on a mock witness stand.

JO:

Private Downey, why did you go into

Santiago's room on the night of the

6th?

DOWNEY:

To give Private Santiago a Code Red,

ma'am.

JO:

And why did you give him a Code Red?

DOWNEY:

I was ordered to give him a Code Red

by the Executive officer for Rifle

Security Company Windward, Lieutenent

Jonathan James Kendrick.

JO smiles.

JO:

You're gonna do fine.

DOWNEY smiles.

DOWNEY:

You think they'll let us go back to

our platoon soon, ma'am?

JO:

(pause)

Absolutely.

CUT TO:

INT. THE COURTHOUSE CORRIDOR - DAY

Jo is going over last-minute details with KAFFEE.

JO:

You remember the order of the

questions?

KAFFEE:

Yes.

JO:

Are you sure?

KAFFEE:

Yes.

JO:

And you'll use small words?

KAFFEE:

Yes.

JO:

He gets rattled when he doesn't

understand something.

KAFFEE:

Jo --

JO:

I'm just saying go slow.

KAFFEE:

I'm gonna go slow.

JO:

Okay.

KAFFEE:

Alright.

JO:

And get him off as fast as you can.

KAFFEE:

Joanne!

JO:

What?

KAFFEE:

He's gonna be fine.

They turn and head into the courtroom as we HEAR MARKINSON

in VOICE OVER...

MARKINSON (V.O.)

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Santiago..."

CUT TO:

INT. MARKINSON'S ROOM - DAY

MARKINSON is writing a letter and we HEAR it in V.O.

MARKINSON (V.O.)

I was William's company commander.

I knew your son vaguely, which is to

say I knew his name...

And while we continue to HEAR Markinson's voice writing the

letter, we begin a SERIES OF SHOTS: MARKINSON is getting

into his class A dress uniform, complete with medals, side

arm, and military dress sabre.

MARKINSON (V.O.)

In a matter of time, the trial of

the two man charged with your son's

death will be concluded, and seven

men and two women whom you've never

met will try to offer you an

explanation as to why William is

dead. For my part, I've done as much

as I can to bring the truth to light.

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