AFewGoodMen.doc

A Few Good Men

Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

Produced by David Brown
Rob Reiner
Andrew Scheinmann

Directed by Rob Reiner

Cast List:

Tom Cruise Lieutenant J.G. Daniel Kaffee
Jack Nicholson Colonel Nathan R. Jessep
Demi Moore Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway
Kevin Bacon Captain Jack Ross
Kiefer Sutherland Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick
Kevin Pollak Lieutenant Sam Weinberg
James Marshall Private First Class Louden Downey
J.T. Walsh Lieutenant Colonel Mathew Markinson
Christopher Guest Dr. Stone

FADE IN:

EXT. A SENTRY TOWER

In the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere.

Small beams of light coming from lamps attached to the tower cut through the ground mist. We HEAR all the unidentifiable sounds of night in the woods. We also HEAR, very, very faintly, a slow, deliberate drum cadence. And as this starts, we begin to MOVE SLOWLY UP THE TOWER, more becomes visible now: ... the sandbags on the ground piled ten-high... the steel, fire escape-type stairway wrapping around the structure and leading to the lookout post, and finally... THE LOOKOUT POST, maybe forty feet off the ground.

Standing the post is the silhouette of a MARINE. He's holding a rifle and staring straight out.

The drum cadence has been building slightly.

CUT TO:

A WIDER SHOT OF THE FENCELINE

And we see by the moonlight that the tall wire-mesh fence winds its way far, far into the distance.

SUBITLE: "UNITED STATES NAVAL BAS GUANTANAMO BAY – CUBA"

The drum cadence continues, and we

CUT TO:

INT. A MARINE BARRACKS

We HEAR two pairs of footsteps and then

CUT TO:

THE BARRACKS CORRIDOR

Where we see that the footsteps belong to DAWSON and DOWNEY, two young marines who we'll get to know later. They stop when they get to a certain door. The drum cadence is still growing. Dawson puts his hand on the doorknob and turns it slowly. He opens the door and they walk into

INT. SANTIAGO'S ROOM – NIGHT

WILLY SANTIAGO, a young, very slight marine, lies asleep in his bunk.

Dawson kneels down by the bed, puts his hand on Santiago's shoulder and shakes him gently. Santiago opens his yes, looks at Dawson, and for a moment there's nothing wrong –

– and then Santiago's eyes fill with terror. He lunges out of the bed – but forget about it. In one flash Dawson and

Downey grab him out of bed, and before the scream can come out, Downey's shoved a piece of cloth into Santiago's mouth.

Everything that happens next occurs with speed, precision and professionalism.

– A strip of duct tape is pulled, ripped, and slapped onto his mouth and eyes –

– A length of rope is wrapped around his hands and feet.

DOWNEY
(quietly)
You're lucky it's us, Willy.

An arm grabs him tightly around the neck, not choking him, just holding his head still –

– The drum cadence has built to a crescendo. We HEAR four sharp blasts from a whistle and we

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – DAY

And the drum cadence we've been hearing has turned into Semper Fidelis and it's coming from

THE U.S. MARINE CORPS BAND, a sight to behold in their red and gold uniforms and polished silver and brass.

The Band is performing on the huge and lush parade grounds before a crowd made up mostly of TOURISTS and DAY-CAMPERS.

As the TITLES ROLL, we watch the Band do their thing from various angles. Incredible precision is the name of the game. Each polished black shoe hitting the ground as if they were all attached by a rod. Each drumstick raised to tho same fraction of a centimeter before striking. A RIFLE DRILL TEAM that can't possibly be human. Flags, banners, the works.

SUBTITLE: "THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, WASHINGTON, D.C."

CUT TO:

HIGH ANGLE

Of the entire band an we end credits.

CUT TO:

EXT. A RED BRICK BUILDING – DAY

It's an important building, a main building. A few SAILERS enter and exit and

CUT TO:

A WOMAN

As she walks across the courtyard toward the brick building. The WOMAN is JOANNE GALLOWAY, a navy lawyer in her early 30's. She's bright, attractive, impulsive, and has a tendency to speak quickly. If she had any friends, they'd call her Jo. As she walks, she mutters to herself ...

JO
I'm requesting... I'm... Captain, I'd like to request that I be the attorney assigned to rep – I'd like to request that it be myself who is assigned to represent –
(she stops)
"That it be myself who is assigned to represent"?... Good, Jo, that's confidence inspiring.

We follow Jo, still muttering, as she walks into the brick building which bears the seal of the UNITED STATES NAVY – JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S CORPS

CUT TO:

INT. WEST'S OFFICE – DAY

As Jo enters. CAPTAIN WEST and two other officers, GIBBS and LAWRENCE, sit around a conference table.

GIBBS
Jo, come on in.

JO
Thank you, sir.

GIBBS
Captain West, this is Lt. Commander Galloway. Jo, you know Mike Lawrence.

JO
Yes sir.
(to West)
Captain, I appreciate your seeing me on such short notice.

WEST
I understand there was some trouble over the weekend down in Cuba.

JO
Yes sir... This past Friday evening. Two marines, Corporal Harold Dawson and Private Louden Downey, entered the barracks room of a PFC William Santiago and assaulted him. Santiago died at the base hospital approximately an hour later. The NIS agent who took their statements maintains they were trying to prevent Santiago from naming them in a fenceline shooting incident. They're scheduled to have a hearing down in Cuba at 4:00 this afternoon.

LAWRENCE
What's the problem?

JO
Dawson and Downey are both recruiting poster marines and Santiago was known to be a screw-up. I was thinking that it sounded an awful lot like a code red.

Jo lets this sink in a moment.

WEST
(under his breath)
Christ.

JO
I'd like them moved up to Washington and assigned counsel. Someone who can really look into this. Someone who possesses not only the legal skill, but a familiarity with the inner workings of the military. In short, Captain, I'd like to suggest that... I be the one who, that it be me who is assigned to represent them.
(beat)
Myself.

Jo looks around the room for a response.

WEST
Joanne, why don't you get yourself a cup of coffee.

JO
Thank you, sir, I'm fine.

WEST
Joanne, I'd like you to leave the room so we can talk about you behind your back.

JO
Certainly, sir.

Jo gets up and walks out.

WEST
I thought this Code Red shit wasn't going on anymore.

LAWRENCE
With the marines at GITMO? Who the hell knows what goes on down there.

WEST
Well lets find out before the rest of the world does, this thing could get messy. What about this woman?

LAWRENCE
Jo's been working a desk at internal affairs for what, almost a year now.

WEST
And before that?

GIBBS
She disposed of three cases in two years.

WEST
Three cases in two years? Who was she handling, the Rosenbergs?

GIBBS
She's not cut out for litigation.

LAWRENCE
She's a hall of an investigator, Jerry –

GIBBS
In internal affairs, sure. She can crawl up a lawyer's ass with the best of 'em, but when it comes to trial work –

WEST
I know. All passion, no street smarts. Bring her back in.

Lawrence goes to the door and motions for Jo to come back in.

WEST
(continuing)
Commander, we're gonna move the defendants up here in the morning.

JO
Thank you, sir.

WEST
And I'll have Division assign them counsel..

JO
(beat)
But... not me.

WEST
From what I understand from your colleagues, you're much too valuable in your present assignment to be wasted on what I'm sure will boil down to a five minute plea bargain and a week's worth of paper work.

JO
Sir –

WEST
Don't worry about it. I promise you, division'll assign the right man for the job.

CUT TO:

EXT. SOFTBALL FIELD – DAY

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

His name is LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE DANIEL ALLISTAIR KAFFEE, and it's almost impossible not to like him. At the moment he's hitting fungoes to about a dozen LAWYERS who are spread out on the softball field on a corner of the bass. The '27 Yankees they're not, but they could probably hold their own against a group of, say, Airforce dentists.

Kaffee's in his late 20's, 15 months out of Harvard Law School, and a brilliant legal mind waiting for a courageous spirit to drive it. He is, at this point in his life, passionate about nothing ... except maybe softball.

KAFFEE
(calling out to the team)
Alright, let's get two!

He smacks one to the SECOND BASE. The ball bounces right between his legs.

SECOND BASE
Sorry!

KAFFEE
Nothing to be sorry about, Sherby. Just look the ball into your glove.

He smacks one out to the same place. It bounces off the heel of SHERBY's glove and into center field.

SECOND BASE (SHERBY)
Sorry!

KAFFEE
You gotta trust me, Sherby. You keep your eyes open, your chances of catching the ball increase by a factor of ten.

SPRADLING, a young naval officer, sweaty and out of breath, walks up behind the backstop.

SPRADLING
Kaffee!

KAFFEE
Let's try it again.

SPRADLING
Kaffee!!

KAFFEE
(turning)
Dave. You seem upset and distraught.

SPRADLING
We were supposed to meet in your office 15 minutes ago to talk about the McDermott case. You're stalling on this thing. Now we got this done and I mean now, or no kidding, Kaffee, I'll hang your boy from a fuckin' yardarm.

KAFFEE
A yardarm?
(calling out)
Sherby, does the Navy still hang people from yardarms?

SHERBY
(calling back)
I don't think so, Danny.

KAFFEE
(back to Spradling)
Dave, Sherby doesn't think the Navy hangs people from yardarms anymore.
(back to the field)
Let's go, let's get two!

He goes back to hitting fungoes.

SPRADLING
I'm gonna charge him with possession and being under the influence while on duty. Plead guilty and I'll recommend 30 days in the brig with loss of rank and pay.

KAFFEE
It was oregano, Dave, it was ten dollars worth of oregano.

SPRADLING
Yeah, well your client thought it was marijuana.

KAFFEE
My client's a moron, that's not against the law.

Swapp! The THIRD BASEMAN takes one in the face.

KAFFEE
(continuing)
Ow. That had to hurt.
(calling out)
Way to keep your head in the play, Lester. Walk it off!

SPRADLING
I've got people to answer to just like you, I'm gonna charge him.

KAFFEE
With what, possession of a condiment?

SPRADLING
Kaffee –

KAFFEE
Dave, I've tried to help you out of this, but if you ask for tall time, I'm gonna file a motion to dismiss.

SPRADLING
You won't got it.

KAFFEE
I will get it.

KAFFEE
(continuing)
And if the MTD is denied, I'll file a motion in liminee seeking to obtain evidentiary ruling in advance, and after that I'm gonna file against pre-trial confinement, and you're gonna spend an entire summer going blind on paperwork because a Signalman Second Class bought and smoked a dime bag of oregano.

SPRADLING
B Misdemeanor, 20 days in the brig.

KAFFEE
C Misdemeanor, 15 days restricted duty.

SPRADLING
I don't know why I'm agreeing to this.

KAFFEE
'Cause you have wisdom beyond your years. Dave, can you play third base?

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

About 16 NAVY AND MARINE LAWYERS (several of whom are women) are taking their seats around a large conference table.

A PARALEGAL is handing out folders and some photocopied papers to the LAWYERS.

We might notice that one of the lawyers is Lieutenant Junior Grade SAM WEINBERG. Sam's serious and studious looking. If he weren't in uniform, you wouldn't guess that he was a naval officer.

CAPTAIN WHITAKER walks in.

WHITAKER
'Morning.

LAWYERS
(school class)
'Morning Captain Whitaker.

WHITAKER
Sam, how's the baby?

SAM
I think she's ready to say her first word any day now.

WHITAKER
How can you tell?

SAM
She just looks like she has something to say.

Kaffee walks in.

KAFFEE
Excuse me, sorry I'm late.

WHITAKER
I'm sure you don't have a good excuse, so I won't force you to come up with a bad one.

KAFFEE
Thank you, Isaac, that's nice of you.

WHITAKER
Sit-down, this first one's for you.

He hands Kaffee some files.

WHITAKER
(continuing)
You're moving up in the world, Danny, you've been requested by Division.

"Oooh"'s and "Ahhh"'S from the other Lawyers. (Subtle Note: Kaffee doesn't want to move up in the world.)

KAFFEE
Requested to do what?

Whitaker hands him a file.

WHITAKER
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A marine corporal named Dawson illegally fires a round from his weapon over the fenceline and into Cuban territory.

KAFFEE
What's a fenceline?

WHITAKER
Sam?

SAM
A big wall separating the good guys from the bad guys.

KAFFEE
Teachers pet.

WHITAKER
PFC William Santiago threatens to rat on Dawson to the Naval investigative Service. Dawson and another member of his squad, PFC Louden Downey, they go into Santiago's room, tie him up, and stuff a rag down his throat. An hour later, Santiago's dead. Attending physician says the rag was treated with some kind of toxin.

KAFFEE
They poisoned the rag?

WHITAKER
Not according to them.

KAFFEE
What do they say?

WHITAKER
Not much. They're being flown up here tomorrow and on Thursday at 0600 you'll catch a transport down to Cuba for the day to find out what you can. Meantime, go across the yard and see Lt. Commander Joanne Galloway. She's the one who had 'em brought up here. She'll fill you in on whatever she has. Any questions?

KAFFEE
The flight to Cuba, was that 0600 in the morning, sir?

WHITAKER
It seems important to Division that this one be handled by the book, so I'm assigning co-counsel. Any volunteers?

SAM
No.

WHITAKER
Sam.

SAM
I have a stack of paper on my desk –

WHITAKER
Work with Kaffee on this.

SAM
Doing what? Kaffee'll finish this up in four days.

WHITAKER
Do various... administrative... you know... things. Back-up. Whatever.

SAM
In other words I have no responsibilities whatsoever.

WHITAKER
Right.

SAM
My kinda case.

CUT TO:

INT. JO'S OFFICE – DAY

Jo sits behind her desk. Kaffee and Sam stand in the doorway.. Kaffee knocks politely.

Jo looks up.

KAFFEE
Hi.
(beat)
I'm Daniel Kaffee. I was told to meet with –
(checks notes)
– Commander Galloway.

Jo is staring at him. Kaffee doesn't know why.

KAFFEE
(continuing)
About a briefing.

Jo is finding this hard to believe.

JO
You're the attorney that Division assigned?

KAFFEE
I'm lead counsel. This is Sam Weinberg.

SAM
I have no responsibilities here whatsoever.

Jo's deeply puzzled.

JO
(beat)
Come in, please, have a seat..

Kaffee and Sam come into the office and sit.

JO
(continuing)