A Few Good Teachers

A Few Good Men

Lt. Daniel Kaffee:
Col. a moment ago you said that you ordered Lt. Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn’t to be touched.

Col. Nathan R. Jessep:
That’s right.

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

Jessep:
Crystal.

Kaffee:
Any chance Lt. Kendrick ignored the order?

Jessep:
Ignored the order?

Kaffee:
Any chance he just forgot about it?

Jessep:
No.

Kaffee:
Any chance Lt. Kendrick left your office and said: “The old man is wrong?”

Jessep:
No.

Kaffee:
When Lt. 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; asked 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.
     Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O’Malley and Airman Rodriguez.
     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?

Jessep:
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.

Jessep:
That’s correct . . .

Kaffee:
You said he was in danger and I said grave danger? And you said: is there any other . . .

Jessep:
I recall what I said . . .

Kaffee:
I can have the court reporter read back to you what you said . . .

Jessep:
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?
Col.?

Jessep:
Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.

Kaffee:
No sir! You made it clear just now that men never take matters in to their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn’t have been in any danger at all should he Col.?

Jessep:
You snotty little bastard.

Capt. Jack Ross:
Your honor I’d like to ask the court for a 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?
     Col.?
     Lt. Kendrick ordered a code red didn’t he because that what you told Lt. Kendrick to do.

Ross:
Objection!

Kaffee:
And when he went back he cut these guys loose!

Ross:
Your Honor!

Kaffee:
You had Markinson sign a phony transfer order. You doctored the log books.

Judge:
Consider yourself in contempt.

Kaffee:
Col. Jessep, did you order a code red?

Judge:
You don’t have to answer that.

Jessep:
I’ll answer it.
You want answers?

Kaffee:
I think I’m entitled.

Jessep:
You want answers?!

Kaffee:
I want the truth!

Jessep:
     You can’t handle the truth!
     Son, we live in a world that has walls and those walls need 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 that 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 trying to defend something. You use them as a punch line.
     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 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 a code red?

Jessep:
I did the job I had to do.

Kaffee:
Did you order a code red?

Jessep:
You’re damn right I did!