A Few Good Men

Lt.(j.g.) Daniel Kaffee:
I want you to know that I think the whole f***ing bunch of you are certifiably insane. This code of honor of yours makes me want to beat the sh*t out of somebody.

Col. Nathan R. Jessup:
I run my unit how I run my unit. You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me, so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous.

Col. Nathan R. Jessup:
There is nothing on this earth sexier, believe me, gentlemen, than a woman you have to salute in the morning. Promote 'em all, I say, because this is true - if you haven't gotten a blow-job from a superior officer, well, you're just letting the best in life pass you by. 'Course, my problem is, I'm a colonel, so I guess I'll just have to keep taking cold showers until they elect some gal president.

Jessup:
Transfer Santiago? Yes I'm sure you're right. I'm sure that's the thing to do. Wait, I've got a better idea. Lets transfer the whole squad off the base. On second thought- lets transfer the whole Windward Division off the base. John, tell those boys to get down off the fence. They're packing their bags. [calling out to his assistant] Tom?

Tom:
[Enters the office] Sir?

Jessup:
Get me the President on the phone. We're surrendering our position in Cuba.

Tom:
Yes, sir.

Jessup:
Wait a minute, Tom. Don't get the President yet. Maybe we should consider this for a second. Dismissed, Tom.

Tom:
Yes, sir.

Col. Jessup:
Maybe, and I'm just spit balling here, maybe, we have a responsibility as officers to train Santiago. Maybe we as officers have a responsibility to this country to see to that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals. Yes, I'm certain that I read that somewhere once. And now I'm thinking, Col. Markinson, that your suggestion of transferring Santiago, while expeditious and certainly painless, might not be, in a matter of speaking, the American way. Santiago stays where he is. We're gonna train the lad!

Jessup:
The Corporal will take you by Personnel on your way back to the flight line and you can have all the transfer orders you want.

Kaffee:
[to Weinberg & Galloway] Let's go.

Jessup:
But you have to ask me nicely.

Kaffee:
I beg your pardon?

Jessup:
You have to ask me nicely. You see, Danny, I can deal with the bullets and the bombs and the blood. I don't want money and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that faggoty white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some f***ing courtesy! You gotta ask me nicely.

[a beat, as Kaffee swallows his disbelief]

Kaffee:
Colonel Jessup, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like a copy of the transfer order, sir.

Jessup:
[politely] No problem.

Dawson:
After six months we'll be dishonorably discharged. Right, sir?

Kaffee:
Probably.

Dawson:
Well, what do we do then, sir? We joined the Marines because we wanted to live our lives by a certain code and we found it in the Corps. Now you're asking us to sign a piece of paper that says we have no honor. You're asking us to say that we're not Marines. If a court decides that what we did was wrong, then I'll accept whatever punishment they give. I believe I was right. I believe I did my job. But I will not dishonor MYSELF, MY UNIT, OR THE CORPS SO THAT I CAN GO HOME IN SIX MONTHS! Sir.

Kendrick:
I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant: the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I'm aware of are my commanding officer, Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, and the Lord our God.

Kaffee:
At your request, Lieutenant Kendrick, I can have the record reflect your lack of acknowledgment of this court as a proper authority.

Captain Jack Ross:
Objection: argumentative.

Judge:
Sustained. Watch yourself, counselor.

[Col. Jessup chuckles while on the witness stand]

Kaffee:
Is this funny, sir?

Col. Jessup:
[face falls to a look of disgust] No, it isn't. It's tragic.

Kaffee:
Do you have an answer to the question, Colonel?

Col. Jessup:
Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these the questions I was really called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me that you have something more, Lieutenant. These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill.

[Kaffee hesitates, dumbfounded]

Col. Jessup:
Do you have any more questions for me, Counselor?

Judge Randolph:
Lt. Kaffee? [pause] Lieutenant, do you have anything further for this witness?

[Jessup defiantly gets up to leave the courtroom]

Col. Jessup:
Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.

Kaffee:
Excuse me. I didn't dismiss you.

Col. Jessup:
I beg your pardon?

Kaffee:
I'm not through with my examination. Sit down.

Col. Jessup:
Colonel.

Kaffee:
What's that?

Col. Jessup:
I would appreciate it if he would address me as "Colonel" or "Sir." I believe I've earned it.

Judge Randolph:
Defense counsel will address the witness as "Colonel" or "Sir."

Col. Jessup:
[to Judge] I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here.

Judge Randolph:
And the witness will address this court as "Judge" or "Your Honor." I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel.

Kaffee:
A moment ago, you said that you ordered Lt. Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched.

Jessup:
That's right.

Kaffee:
And Lt. Kendrick was clear on what you wanted?

Jessup:
Crystal.

Kaffee:
Any chance Lt. Kendrick ignored the order?

Jessup:
Ignored the order?

Kaffee:
Any chance he forgot about it?

Jessup:
No.

Kaffee:
Any chance Lt. Kendrick left your office and said, "the old man is wrong"?

Jessup:
No.

Kaffee:
When Lt. Kendrick spoke to the platoon and ordered them not to touch Santiago, any chance they ignored him?

Jessup:
You ever served in an infantry unit, son?

Kaffee:
No, sir.

Jessup:
Ever served in a forward area?

Kaffee:
No, sir.

Jessup:
Ever put your life in another man's hands and asked him to put his life in yours?

Kaffee:
No, sir.

Jessup:
We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?

Kaffee:
Yes, sir.

Jessup:
Are we clear?!

Kaffee:
Crystal. Colonel, I just have one more question before I put Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez on the stand. If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would Santiago be in danger? Why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?

Jessup:
Santiago was a substandard marine. He was being transferred...

Kaffee:
That's not what you said. You said he was being transferred, because he was in grave danger.

Jessup:
That's correct.

Kaffee:
You said he was in danger. I said "grave danger"? You said...

Jessup:
I recall what I said.

Kaffee:
I could have the court reporter read back to you...

Jessup:
I know what I said! I don't have to have it read back to me, like I'm...

Kaffee:
Then why the two orders? Colonel?

Jessup:
Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.

Kaffee:
No, sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel?

Jessup:
You snotty, little bastard.

Ross:
Your honor, I'd like to ask for recess.

Kaffee:
I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.

Judge:
The court will wait for an answer.

Kaffee:
If Lt. Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Colonel? Lt. Kendrick ordered the Code Red, didn't he? Because that's what you told Lt. Kendrick to do!

Ross:
Objection!

Kaffee:
And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose! You had Markinson sign a phony transfer order, and you doctored the log book!

Ross:
Damn it, Kaffee!

Kaffee:
You coerced the doctor!

Judge:
Consider yourself in contempt!

Kaffee:
Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Red?!

Judge:
You don't have to answer that question!

Jessup:
I'll answer the question. You want answers?

Kaffee:
I think I'm entitled!

Jessup:
You want answers?!

Kaffee:
I want the truth!

Jessup:
You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know, that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like "honor", "code", "loyalty". We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you", and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!

Kaffee:
Did you order the Code Red?

Jessup:
I did the job that--

Kaffee:
Did you order the Code Red?!!

Jessup:
YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT I DID!!

Col. Jessup:
[Judge dismisses the jury] What is this? What's going on? I did my job, I'd do it again! [stands up defiantly] I'm gonna get on a plane and go on back to my base.

Judge Randolph:
You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MP's... guard the Colonel!

[MPs take post]

Judge Randolph:
Captain Ross?

Col. Jessup:
What the hell is this?

Capt. Ross:
Colonel Jessup, you have the right to remain silent. Any statement you make...

Col. Jessup:
[while Ross continues reading his rights] I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime? This is funny. That's what this is. This is... [turning to Kaffee and lunging at him] I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You f***ed with the wrong Marine!

Capt. Ross:
Colonel Jessup, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?

Col. Jessup:
You f***in' people. You have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son.

Kaffee:
Don't call me son. I'm a lawyer, and an officer in the United States Navy. And you're under arrest, you son of a b*tch. The witness is excused.

Downey:
I don't understand... Colonel Jessup said he ordered the Code Red.

Galloway:
I know, but...

Downey:
Colonel Jessup said he ordered the Code Red! What did we do wrong?

Galloway:
It's not that simple...

Downey:
What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong!

Dawson:
Yeah, we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willy.

In the heart of the nation's capital, in a courthouse of the U.S. government, one man will stop at nothing to keep his honor, and one will stop at nothing to find the truth.