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A Few God Men Script

This document summarizes an English project adapting a scene from the film "A Few Good Men". It lists the members of the group and their roles. It provides details on the adapted scene, which takes place in a courtroom and revolves around the climax of the film. It includes the script for the relevant scene between Lt. Kaffee and Colonel Jessep during Jessep's deposition in the trial.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
173 views12 pages

A Few God Men Script

This document summarizes an English project adapting a scene from the film "A Few Good Men". It lists the members of the group and their roles. It provides details on the adapted scene, which takes place in a courtroom and revolves around the climax of the film. It includes the script for the relevant scene between Lt. Kaffee and Colonel Jessep during Jessep's deposition in the trial.

Uploaded by

aayaksh chadha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SUMMARY FOR ENGLISH PROJECT

 Topic – adaptation of a scene from “A Few Good Men”


 Members
 Tanurag Ghosh(180101147) as “Lt. Daniel Kaffee”
 Aayaksh Chadha(180101003) as “Colonel Nathan R. Jessup” and video editor
 Virat Singh(180101165) as “Captain Jack Ross”
 Konark Singh(180101068) as “Judge (Colonel) Julius Alexander Randolph”
 Tanmaya Gupta(180101146) as “Lance Corporal Harold Dawson” and direction -
screenplay
 Shaurya Singh(180101122)as “Lieutenant (junior grade) Sam Weinberg”
 Arihant(180101029) as “Captain Whitaker”
 Kumar Mohit(180101070) as “Private First Class Louden Downey” and cameraman
 Summary
o This project is an adaption of the climax scene of the 1992 movie “A Few Good Man” and is
directed by Rob Reiner. The movie stars Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore,
with Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, Wolfgang Bodison, James Marshall, J. T. Walsh and Kiefer
Sutherland in supporting roles. The films plot revolves around the court-martial of two U.S.
Marines charged with the murder of a fellow Marine and the tribulations of their lawyers as they
prepare a case to defend their clients. We have omitted the role of “Lieutenant
Commander JoAnne Galloway, USN, JAG Corps”.
o The scene revolves around the climax of the movie and is based in a courtroom. It starts
with the deposition of “Colonel Nathan R. Jessup” by “Lt. Daniel Kaffee” . The scene is 5-6
minutes long.
 Script
Relevant Scene from A Few Good Men
INT. THE COURTROOM - DAY

Everyone stands at attention as RANDOLPH enters. SAM is missing.

 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.

 Over this we HEAR--

 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 holds up a document from his table.

 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.

 KAFFEE nods and decides to move on.

 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 gets a document from his table.

 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.

 That landed. On the JURY, RANDOLPH, ROSS ...

 KAFFEE
 (continuing)
 I'll tell you what, we'll get back to that one in a minute.

 JO hands KAFFEE the computer printout.

 KAFFEE
 (continuing)
 This is a record of all telephone calls made from your base in the past 24 hours. After being subpoenaed to Washing

 Handinq Jessep the printout--

 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.

 Jo's handed KAFFEE another printout and a stack of letters.

 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 ponders this a moment.

 RANDOLPH
 (pause)
 Overruled.

 ROSS
 Your honor--

 RANDOLPH
 The objection's noted.

 KAFFEE
 (beat)
 Colonel?

 Jessep's smiling ...

 ... 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?

 The courtroom is silenced. Jessep's slammed the door.

 KAFFEE looks around the room, sees that the world is waiting for him to do something ...

 RANDOLPH
 Lt. Kaffee?

 KAFFEE says nothing. He glances over to AIRMEN O'MALLEY and


 PEREZ.

 RANDOLPH
 (continuing)
 Lieutenant, do you have anything further for this witness?

 KAFFEE doesn't respond. JESSEP gets up to leave.

 JESSEP
 (standing)
 Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.

 And JESSEP starts to leave, but he's stopped by--

 KAFFEE
 Excuse me, I didn't dismiss you.

 JESSEP turns around.

 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 goes back to the stand.

 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?

 And JESSEP has no answer.

 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?

 Everyone's sweating now. Everyone but KAFFEE.

 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?

 Jessep is looking at O'KALLEY and PEREZ.

 KAFFEE
 (continuing)
 Colonel?

 JESSEP says nothing.

 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!

 And nobody moves.

 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

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