A Few Good Men Page #46

The courtroom is silent from Jessep's outburst. Jessep shakes

his head.

JESSEP:

(continuing)

You f***in' people.

(beat)

You have no idea how to defend a

nation.

(continuing; to KAFFEE)

All you did was weaken a country

today, Kaffee. That's all you did.

You put people in danger. Sweet

dreams, son.

KAFFEE:

Don't call me son.

(beat)

I'm a lawyer, and an officer of the

United States Navy. And you're under

arrest you sonofabitch.

KAFFEE stays on JESSEP a moment longer, then remembers --

KAFFEE:

(continuing)

The witness is excused.

The M.P.'s start leading JESSEP out, and KAFFEE notices

DAWSON. And DOWNEY. And ROSS. who are watching a man in a

marine colonels uniform be led away in handcuffs... KAFFEE

takes a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes some sweat

from his hands. He takes a deep breath as we

SLOW DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THE COURTROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

There's low murmur in the room as the JURORS are being led

back into their box.

Everyone's in place.

RANDOLPH enters.

SERGEANT AT ARMS

Ten-hut.

All rise. And sit when RANDOLPH sits.

RANDOLPH:

Have the jurors reached a verdict?

JURY FOREMAN:

We have, sir.

The SERGEANT AT ARMS takes all the slips of paper from the

FOREMAN and brings them to RANDOLPH.

KAFFEE stands, and nods to DAWSON and DOWNEY that they should

do the same. SAM and JO stand as well.

RANDOLPH:

(reading)

On the charge of Murder, the Members

find the defendants Not Guilty.

It's hard to resist the temptation to scream and shout, but

they do.

RANDOLPH:

(continuing; reading)

On the charge of Conspiracy to Commit

Murder, the Members find the

defendants Not Guilty.

RANDOLPH looks up. Then reads from the last slip of paper.

RANDOLPH:

(continuing)

On the charge of Conduct Unbecoming

a United States Marine, the members

find the defendants Guilty as Charged.

A little of the energy drains out of the room. RANDOLPH

continues reading.

RANDOLPH:

(continuing; reading)

The defendants are hereby sentenced

by this court to time already served,

and are ordered...

RANDOLPH clears his throat.

RANDOLPH:

(continuing)

...And are ordered to be dishonorably

discharged from the marine corps.

(pause)

This Court-Martial is adjourned.

RANDOLPH raps his gavel.

SERGEANT AT ARMS

Ten hut.

All rise.

RANDOLPH's gone.

SERGEANT AT ARMS

(continuing)

Dismissed.

The M.P.'s move to DAWSON and DOWNEY to unlock their

handcuffs. KAFFEE is packing up his things, just another day

at the office.

DAWSON:

Why?

KAFFEE:

Harold, I'm sorry.

DAWSON:

Why?!

DOWNEY:

I don't understand. Colonel Jessep

said he ordered the Code Red.

JO:

I know, but --

DOWNEY:

Colonel Jessep said he ordered the

Code Red, what did we do wrong?

JO:

It's not as simple as --

DOWNEY:

What did we do wrong?

DAWSON:

We did nothing wrong.

SAM slaps his hands down on the table --

SAM:

Yes you did! A jury just said your

conduct was unbecoming a marine.

What does that mean?!

DAWSON:

You're the lawyer.

SAM:

You're the marine.

DAWSON:

Not anymore.

SAM lets it hang. DAWSON is staring at SAM. His stare moves

slowly to the floor.

DAWSON:

(continuing)

I never meant to hurt Willy.

DAWSON looks up at HIS PARENTS. The moment hangs there...

before

SERGEANT AT ARMS

Kaffee, I've gotta take these guys

over to personnel for some paper

work.

KAFFEE nods.

SERGEANT AT ARMS

(continuing; to Dawson

& Downey)

Gentleman?

DAWSON looks to KAFFEE. There's gotta be more. This can't be

it.

But KAFFEE has nothing to say.

DAWSON and DOWNEY walk to the SERGEANT AT ARMS and begin to

follow him up the aisle and out of the courtroom. But before

they get to the door, KAFFEE turns around and calls

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