The Last Castle Page #3

Army-Navy game.

Class of'92.

I met you once

when I was a kid.

1981. It was a welcome-back celebration

at the White House for the POWs.

- My father was with you in Hanoi.

- What's your name?

- Yates.

- Yates? Sam Yates?

That's right.

- Good man.

- Nah, he wasn't.

After 30 years, everyone's

a good man. It's the law.

- Mmm.

- How is he? How's your dad?

He's not too good. He's dead.

- [Man On P.A., Indistinct]

- I'm sorry. What happened?

Came home.

Billingworth, Irwin, Jacobson--

You're late. You have five minutes

left on your visitor.

- Five minutes left.

- [Chattering]

Rosalie?

- Hi.

- Hi.

- It's good of you to come.

- Thank you.

Was it hard getting here?

Um, I missed a turn.

It's just good to see you.

- How's Ben? Good?

- Fine. Uh-huh.

- School okay? Grades?

- Um, well he's in first grade.

- Well, do you have a picture of him?

- No.

The one I have is two years old.

He must have changed a lot

since-- since then.

And how are you, Rosalie?

Um--

- Look, Dad--

- Uh-oh. "Look, Dad."

I just-- I can't do this.

I can't do this small-talk thing

with you.

The whole drive over here,

I was trying to think what--

What am I going to say?

What can we talk about

beyond the weather...

and how's Ben,

and I just went blank.

Do I-- Do I intimidate you?

- Intimidate me?

- I guess that's the downside...

of having a "Yes, sir" "No, sir"

military father, but I tried not to--

You weren't a father at all.

God, I'm sorry. I don't want to whine.

I'm not here to be cruel.

You're a great man.

And you've done so much

for this country.

- But?

- No. No but. No but.

Just this isn't the place.

Well, it's the only place

I've got right now, Rose.

Why did you call me, Dad?

Why? I don't know you.

You don't know me.

I mean, what did you think

asking me here?

That I'd come every Sunday

and maybe I'd bring Ben...

and he would sit

and color while we talked?

There was a time.

When I was about 20,

I had a whole list of things

I was going to say to you.

- [Bell Rings]

- Those days are gone.

[Guard] The visitation session is over.

Please conclude your visits.

- [Inmate]

This isn't enough time, man.

- Let's go, folks. Let's go.

I'm sorry you're in this place.

And I wish you the best.

[Scattered Good-byes]

I wish you the best.

I guess you figured out

what to say after all.

- I guess I did.

- Be all right if I wrote? Is that okay?

There's some things

I'd like to tell you.

When I was in first grade,

I got straight "As".

[Inmate]

Come on. Let's go.

- Afternoon, sir.

- Don't call me that. I'm not--

Put your hand down.

- Permission to speak, sir.

- What?

I just wanted to say

welcome to the castle, sir.

- It's good to have you aboard, sir.

- Aboard?

- You Navy puke, son?

- No, no, sir. I was in the Corps.

What rank were you

when you were arrested?

- I was a C-C-C--

- It was either Colonel or Corporal.

- I'm guessing Corporal.

- Yes, sir.

Why are you here?

What did you do?

Well, that's just it.

I di-didn't do nothing.

It was a mistake.

Oh. Okay.

[Man On P.A.]

Medication call is in five minutes.

I h-hurt someone real bad.

How long you been here?

- Two years.

- And how long do you have?

How much longer?

Four years, eight months,

eleven days.

And this mistake,

you've just the one?

Just-Just one.

- Just one day in your life?

- Ju-Ju-Ju--

No. Take your time.

Got plenty of that.

Just five seconds, sir.

And you're a marine for what,

one or two years?

And you're a violent criminal

for five seconds?

- Yes, sir.

- Well, according to my calculations,

that makes you mostly Marine.

About 98 percent, I'd say.

- Yes, sir.

- Then why not act like one?

Stand tall.

This thing that you're doing with your

hand, grabbing your hair, what's that?

- That was a salute.

- A sa-- Oh, no. [Laughs]

- I don't think so.

You know where saluting comes from?

- No, sir.

It comes from medieval times.

Two knights would approach

each other on horseback.

They would raise their visors

and show their faces.

It's like they're saying,

"This is who I am.

I'm not the enemy

and I'm not afraid."

A salute's about respect, son.

Respect for yourself,

the service and the flag.

- [Knocking On Door]

- If you're going to do this--

Sir, you wanted to see me? Sir?

Come.

Look at that.

- Oh, man.

- No, no, no.

At the War College,

his very name was spoken...

with a reverence.

As if the syllables themselves conveyed

what it meant to be a soldier.

Now here he is commanding

an army of one--

the stuttering monkey.

Can't even watch.

I discussed the regulations

on saluting with Aguilar, did I not?

- Yes, sir.

- Remind him again-- effectively.

[Horn Blaring]

Put your hand down.

Put it down.

- You don't have to do this.

- Prisoner Irwin, what are you doing?

- He doesn't have to do this.

- Look, just step back in the prison--

Son, I know a thing or two

about the disciplining of soldiers.

- Prisoner Aguilar,

resume your punishment.

- Punishment is over.

Aguilar, I'm warning you--

- [Whistle]

- Men down! Men down!

You're better than this.

- Okay, okay. That's enough.

- [Alarm Wailing]

[Man On P.A.]

All inmates remain on the

ground in the prone position.

All inmates remain on the

ground in the prone position.

[Guard]

Stay down! Everybody stay down!

What is happening here?

This prisoner was interfering

with the corporal punishment

of prisoner Aguilar.

Prisoner Irwin, I understand

your coming here must be

a big adjustment for you.

To go from commanding

thousands of troops in battle,

having no war to fight and no one

to follow you must not be easy.

However, I do ask that you learn

how things are done around here...

and try to set an example

for the other men.

Saluting is prohibited.

Aguilar was saluting.

He is being disciplined.

Surely you understand that.

- Captain, take the prisoner

back to his cell.

- Yes, sir.

Sir? May the prisoner speak, sir?

- Yes.

- According to the Manual of Conduct,

the corporal punishment for

a prisoner begun on the day shift...

cannot exceed

the following morning's horn.

Prisoner Irwin,

you are absolutely right.

Thank you for bringing that

to my attention.

- Captain. Captain.

- Yes, sir.

Prisoner Irwin,

under no circumstances...

is an inmate allowed to make

physical contact with an officer.

You have violated the

U.S.M.C.F. Manual of Conduct.

And this violation

requires discipline.

What's going on?

- Winter's got him

on rock-and-roll detail.

- Is he not going to make it?

No way. Three-two against.

Come on, youguys.

Those stones weigh 25 pounds apiece.

It's gonna be 85 degrees by noon.

We have 2,000 percent humidity.

The guy's not going to make the day.

- Everyone paid up this week?

- Yeah, we're good.

Put mine in,

double or nothing against.

No way he's gonna make it.

- Beaupre, 12.

- [Yates] Double or nothing, against.

Hey, hey, hey.

[Continues, Indistinct]

[Yates]

Who's down for ten?

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