A Few God Men Script
A Few God Men Script
RANDOLPH
(to KAFFEE)
Call your witness.
KAFFEE
Where's Sam?
JO
He'll be here.
RANDOLPH
Lieutenant, call your witness.
KAFFEE
Defense calls Colonel Nathan Jessep.
JESSEP is escorted in through a side door. He's wearing his dress uniforms, adorned with the appropriate medals.
ROSS
Colonel, do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give in this General Court-Martial will be the truth, the
JESSEP
Yes I do.
ROSS
Would you state your name, rank, and current billet for the record please, air?
JESSEP
Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, Commanding officer, Marine Ground Forces, Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba.
ROSS
Thank you, sir, would you have a seat, please.
JESSEP sits.
KAFFEE
Colonel, when you learned of Santiago's letter to the NIS, you had a meeting with
your two senior officers, is that right?
JESSEP
Yes.
KAFFEE
The Executive Officer, Lt. Jonathan Kendrick, and the Company Commander, Captain Matthew Markinson.
JESSEP
Yes.
KAFFEE
And at present, Captain Markinson is dead, is that right?
ROSS
Objection. I'd like to know just what defense counsel is implying?
KAFFEE
I'm implying simply that, at present, Captain Markinson is not alive.
ROSS
Surely Colonel Jessep doesn't need to appear in this courtroom to confirm that information.
KAFFEE
I just wasn't sure if the witness was aware that two days ago, Captain Markinson took his own life with a .45 caliber
And from the back of the room, SAM enters. He's escorting two young AIRMEN in Airforce dress uniforms. SAM s
table.
RANDOLPH (O.S.)
The witness is aware, the Court is aware, and now the jury is aware. We thank you for bringing this to our attention.
SAM scribbles something on a piece of paper, KAFFEE walks over, looks at the paper on which are wrttten two nam
KAFFEE
Yes sir. Colonel, at the time of this meeting, you gave Lt. Kendrick an order,
is that right?
JESSEP
I told Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
KAFFEE
And did you give an order to Captain Markinson as well?
JESSEP
I ordered Markinscn to have Santiago transferred off the base immediately.
KAFFEE
Why?
JESSEP
I felt that his life might be in danger once word of the letter got out.
KAFFEE
Grave danger?
JESSEP
Is there another kind?
KAFFEE
We have the transfer order that you and Markinson co-signed, ordering that Santiago be lifted on a flight leaving Gu
JESSEP
The six a.m. flight was the first flight off the base.
JESSEP steals a quick glance at the two AIRMEN sitting out in the courtroom.
KAFFEE
Colonel, you flew up to Washington early this morning, is that right?
JESSEP
Yes.
I notice you're wearing your Class A appearance in dress uniform for court today.
JESSEP
(continuing)
As are you, Lieutenant.
KAFFEE
Did you wear that uniform on the plane?
ROSS
Please the Court, is this dialogue relevant to anything in particular?
KAFFEE
The defense didn't have an opportunity to depose this witness, your honor. I'd ask the Court for a little latitude.
RANDOLPH
A very little latitude.
KAFFEE
Colonel?
JESSEP
I wore fatigues on the plane.
KAFFEE
And you brought your dress uniform with
you.
JESSEP
Yes.
KAFFEE
And a toothbrush? A shaving kit? Change of underwear?
ROSS
Your honor.
KAFFEE
(to ROSS)
Is the Colonel's underwear a matter of national security?
RANDOLPH
Gentlemen.
(to KAFFEE)
You better get somewhere fast with this, Lieutenant.
KAFFEE
Yes sir. Colonel?
JESSEP
I brought a change of clothes and some personal items.
KAFFEE
Thank you.
KAFFEE
(continuing)
After Dawson and Downey's arrest on the night of the sixth, Santiago's barracks room was sealed off and its content
(reading)
Pairs of camouflage pants, 6 camouflage
shirts, 2 pairs of boots, 1 pair of brown
shoes, 1 pair of tennis shoes, 8 khaki tee-
shirts, 2 belts, 1 sweater--
ROSS
Please the Court, is there a question anywhere in our future?
RANDOLPH
Lt. Kaffee, I have to--
KAFFEE
I'm wondering why Santiago wasn't packed.
KAFFEE
(continuing)
I'll tell you what, we'll get back to that one in a minute.
KAFFEE
(continuing)
This is a record of all telephone calls made from your base in the past 24 hours. After being subpoenaed to Washing
KAFFEE
(continuing)
I've highlighted those calls in yellow. Do you recognize those numbers?
JESSEP
I called Colonel Fitzhuqhes in Quantico, Va. I wanted to let him know I'd be in town. The second call was to set up
and the third call was to my sister Elizabeth.
KAFFEE
Why did you make that call, sir?
JESSEP
I thought she might like to have dinner tonight.
ROSS
Judge--
RANDOLPH
I'm gonna put a stop to this now.
KAFFEE
Your honor, these are the telephone records from GITMO for August 6th. And these are 14 letters that Santiago wro
(to JESSEP)
Upon hearing the news that he was finally getting his transfer, Santiago was so excited, that do you know how many
coming home.
Not one call to a friend saying can you pick me up at the airport. He was asleep in his bed at midnight, and accordin
hanging neatly in his closet and folded neatly in his footlocker. You were leaving for one day and you packed a bag
hadn't called a soul and he hadn't packed a thing. Can you explain that? The fact is there was no transfer order. Santia
ROSS
Object. Your Honor, it's obvious that Lt. Kaffee's intention this morning is to smear a high ranking marine officer in
with the jury.
ROSS
(continuing)
It's my recommendation, sir, that Lt. Kaffee receive an official reprimand from the bench, and that the witness be ex
RANDOLPH
(pause)
Overruled.
ROSS
Your honor--
RANDOLPH
The objection's noted.
KAFFEE
(beat)
Colonel?
... and now he can't help but let out a short laugh.
KAFFEE
(continuing)
Is this funny, sir?
JESSEP
No. It's not. It's tragic.
KAFFEE
Do you have an answer?
JESSEP
Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early morning riser and he liked to pack
I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do
questions I was called here to answer? Phone calls and footlockers? Please tell me you've got something more, Lieut
for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill.
(beat)
Do you have any other questions for me,
counselor?
KAFFEE looks around the room, sees that the world is waiting for him to do something ...
RANDOLPH
Lt. Kaffee?
RANDOLPH
(continuing)
Lieutenant, do you have anything further for this witness?
JESSEP
(standing)
Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.
KAFFEE
Excuse me, I didn't dismiss you.
JESSEP
I beg your pardon.
KAFFEE
I'm not through with my examination. Sit down.
JESSEP
Colonel.
KAFFEE
What's that?
JESSEP
(to RANDOLPH)
I'd appreciate it if he addressed me as Colonal or Sir. I believe I've earned it.
RANDOLPH
Defense counsel will address the witness as Colonel or Sir.
JESSEP
(to RANDOLPH)
I don't know what the hell kind of an outfit you're running here. And the witness will address this Court as Judge or
JESSEP
(continuing)
What would you like to discuss now! My favorite color?
KAFFEE
Colonel, the six a.m. flight, was the first one off the base?
JESSEP
Yes.
KAFFEE
There wasn't a flight that left seven hours earlier and landed at Andrews Airforce Base at 2 a.m.?
RANDOLPH
Lieutenant, I think we've covered this, haven't we?
KAFFEE gets the two log books from his table as well as the piece of paper that SAM scribbled on.
KAFFEE
Your Honor, these are the Tower Chief's Logs for both Guantanamo Bay and Andrews Airforce Base. The Guantana
that landed at 2 a.m. I'd like to admit them as Defense Exhibits "A" and "B".
RANDOLPH
I don't understand. You're admitting evidence of a flight that never existed?
KAFFEE
We believe it did, sir. (glancing at the paper, then motioning to the
AIRMEN)
Defense'll be calling Airman Cecil O'Malley and Airman Anthony Perez. They
were working the ground crew at Andrews at two a.m. on the seventh.
ROSS
Your Honor, these men weren't on the list. Rebuttal witnesses, Your Honor, called
specifically to reflite testimony offered under direct examination.
If you looked closely at JESSEP, you could see a drop of sweat.
RANDOLPH
I'll allow the witnesses.
JESSEP
This is ridiculous.
KAFFEE
Colonel, a moment ago--
JESSEP
Check the Tower Logs for christ's sake.
KAFFEE
We'll get to the airmen in just a minute, sir. A moment ago said that you ordered
Kendrick to order his men not to touch Santiago.
JESSEP
That's right.
KAFFEE
And Kendrick was clear on what you wanted?
JESSEP
Crystal.
KAFFEE
Any chance Kendrick ignored the order?
JESSEP
Ignored the order?
KAFFEE
Any chance he just forgot about it?
JESSEP
No.
KAFFEE
Any chance Kendrick left your office and said, "The 'old man's wrong"?
JESSEP
No.
KAFFEE
When Kendrick spoke to the platoon and ordered them not to touch Santiago, any
chance they ignored him?
JESSEP
Have you ever spent time in an infantry unit, son?
KAFFEE
No sir.
JESSEP
Ever served in a forward area?
KAFFEE
No sir.
JESSEP
Ever put your life in another man's hands, ask him to put his life in yours?
KAFFEE
No sir.
JESSEP
We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we
clear?
KAFFEE
Yes sir.
JESSEP
Are we clear?
KAFFEE
Crystal.
KAFFEE speaks with the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you're about to drop your opponents
KAFFEE
(continuing; beat)
Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman
Perez: If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are
always followed, then why would he be in danger, why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
Nothing.
He sits there, and for the first time, seems to be lost.
JESSEP
Private Santiago was a sub-standard marine. He was being transferred off the base because--
KAFFEE
But that's not what you said. You said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger.
JESSEP
(pause)
Yes. That's correct, but--
KAFFEE
You said, "He was in danger". I said, "Grave danger". You said--
JESSEP
Yes, I recall what--
KAFFEE
I can have the Court Reporter read back your--
JESSEP
I know what I said. I don't need it read back to me like I'm a damn--
KAFFEE
Then why the two orders?
(beat)
Colonel?
(beat)
Why did you--
JESSEP
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
should he have, Colonel?
JESSEP
You little bastard.
ROSS
Your Honor, I have to ask for a recess to--
KAFFEE
I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
RANDOLPH
The Court'll wait for answer.
KAFFEE
If Kendrick told his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred?
KAFFEE
(continuing)
Colonel?
KAFFEE
(continuing)
Kendrick ordered the code red, didn't he? Because that's what you told Kendrick to do.
ROSS
Object!
RANDOLPH
Counsel.
KAFFEE will plow through the objections of ROSS and the admonishments of RANDOLPH.
KAFFEE
And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose.
ROSS
Your Honor--
RANDOLPH
That'll be all, counsel.
KAFFEE
You had Markinson sign a phony transfer order--
ROSS
Judge--
KAFFEE
You doctored the log books.
ROSS
Damnit Kaffee!!
KAFFEE
I'll ask for the forth time. You ordered--
JESSEP
You want answers?
KAFFEE
I think I'm entitled to them.
JESSEP
You want answers?!
KAFFEE
I want the truth.
JESSEP
You can't handle the truth!
JESSEP
(continuing)
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? Y
fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowin
existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.
(beat)
You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. Yo
loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline.
(beat)
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the v
you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either w
KAFFEE
(quietly)
Did you order the code red?
JESSEP
(beat)
I did the job you sent me to do.
KAFFEE
Did you order the code red?
JESSEP
(pause)
You're goddamn right I did.
Silence. From everyone. RANDOLPH, ROSS, the M.P.'s, they're all frozen. JO and SAM are likewise. JESSEP seem