HONOR & BETRAYAL PT 28
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INT
JAG OPS HALLWAY
1700 HOURS
Rabb walks out of the JAG Ops main door and towards the
elevator. He waits momentarily for the doors of the elevator to open and
then steps in. As he presses the lower level button on the panel, Mac
walks hurriedly towards the elevator so as to catch it before the doors
close. As the doors begin to close, Harm observes Mac attempting to get on
and places his hand in the elevator doors so as to stop their motion. Mac
hesitates momentarily as she observes Harm standing inside the
elevator. Finally she enters the elevator and the
doors close leaving the two of them standing awkwardly beside one another as
they face the front of the elevator.
RABB
(at length somewhat awkwardly)
Well, you're awful quiet, Mac!
Mac gazes up anxiously watching the floor indicator light
above the elevator door.
MAC
(a note of sarcasism in her
voice)
Maybe it's because I have
nothing to say to you right now, Commander!
RABBI
(noting her tone of voice)
Does that mean that I'm in your proverbial
dog house, Mac?
MAC
(irritably)
No, not really! It
just means that there are some things that are better left unsaid!
RABB
(he moves toward her, takes her arm gently and turns her
toward him.) Look, I know all this is hard on you, Mac, ...and I'm
sorry!....But you know how these things work! I mean we talked about all
this before I accepted this case and it seemed to me that we both understood the
conditions we'd be facing.
Mac gazes piercingly into his eyes, her anger obvious in her
demeanor.
MAC
What is it that you want me to say, Harm? That it's ok
and that I forgive you?
RABB
Yes!?.......No!?......I don't know, Mac! Am I in need of
absolution? You tell me because I sure as hell don't
know the answer!
MAC
No! I guess you really don't have a clue
now, do you Harm?
RABB
(becoming defensive as Mac's words tear at his very being)
That's really not fair, Mac, and you know
it!
MAC
Well I guess I could say the same for the manner in which you
totally destroyed the testimony of every witness in that courtroom today, now,
couldn't I
RABB
I'm Captain Peterson's defense attorney,
Mac! It's my job to defend him to the best of my ability and I that's what
I thought I was doing!
MAC
Well, you certainly went
above and beyond the call of duty this time,
Harm!
RABB
Excuse me?
The elevators open as Mac eyes meet Harm's.
MAC
(lashing out angrily, her eyes steadfast on his)
You may not have chosen to handle this case, Commander, but it
certainly hasn't diminished your performance in the courtroom, now has
it!......You're just as cold and calculating no matter what the
cost!
With those words from Mac, she hastily steps out of the
elevator leaving Harm devastated by her last words.
**************************************
INT
GEORGETOWN NIGHT CLUB
2000 HOURS
Commander Rabb is sitting alone in a secluded corner of
a dimly lit and smoke filled night club with an alcoholic beverage sitting on
the table in front of him. Dressed in civilian clothing and his demeanor
revealing a certain degree of intoxication, a woman walks out of the
shadows of the dimly lit room and observes Rabb curiously. Once in
the rays of light emitting from the wall fixture near Rabb's table, we
recognize her as MELANIE BLAKE the reporter from the Washington
Herald.
BLAKE
(In a seductive tone of voice as he reaches Rabb's
table)
Well, hello there handsome!
Rabb gazes up to Blake and observes her curiously without
recognizing her)
RABB
Ma'am.
BLAKE
Good looking guy like you sitting here alone in a corner sure
makes me think you could use some company.
RABB
(brashly)
Nooo ma'am!.......I.... am doing just fine sitting here
all by myself.....thank you very much!
BLAKE
May I sit down?
RABB
Suit yourself!.....But I can promise you..... I won't be very
much company!
BLAKE
(as she takes a seat)
Thanks!........And you can call me Melanie!
Rabb smiles slightly as he gazes at her across the
table
BLAKE
And your name is.........
RABB
Do you really feel the need to know,
............ma'am?
BLAKE
Well, I was noticing you earlier from across the room and it
seems to me you look rather familiar.
RABB
(looking across the room into the shadows of the smoke filled
room)
Ma'am, from across the room, how the hell could you see
anything?
BLAKE
(smiles with amusement)
Well, I guess you do have a point there.
Rabb stares at her for a long moment.
RABB
(playfully)
Ok!........soooo..........you haven't told me who you think I
am yet!
BLAKE
(smiling at Rabb)
You know, I really think you've had a little too much to
drink!
RABB
(drinking down the last of his drink)
Noooope!...........Not yet!.......B'.cause I'm still feeling
cold and calculating!
BLAKE
Really!....And why is that?
RABB
Oh,......well ma'am, .......it's all in a days
work!
BLAKE
What is it you do for a living?
RABB
I'm a lawyer ma'am!.....But then if you know who I am,....
then.... you sure as hell know what I do, now don't you.
BLAKE
Well, I guess you've got me there! . (she pauses for a
long moment observing Rabb across the table from her) You're
Commander Harmon Rabb Junior, JAG Corps officer and defense counsel to Captain
James Peterson.
Rabb studies the woman across the table from him
surprised that she has been able to identify him and coming to the conclusion
that she was a reporter covering the Peterson court martial.
RABB
(irritably denying his identity)
You must have me confused with someone
else.
BLAKE
Not a chance, Commander! Your name and face have been
all over the news media, so there's no mistaking who you are.
RABB
(frustrated as he realizes he's been led on by
Blake)
Really! ....... Well, I'll just bet it all has to do
with people just like yourself.
BLAKE
(lending her hand in greeting)
The name is Melanie Blake.........reporter for the Washington
Herald.
RABB
(despicably as he refuses her hand)
And just exactly what do you want with me, MZZZ
Blake?
BLAKE
I'd like an exclusive interview with a very elusive defense
counselor!
RABB
Well, ma'am, it's not going to happen......at least not in
this lifetime, anyway!
BLAKE
Then my readers won't have very much to go on now, will they,
Commander?
RABB
You don't have ANYTHING to go on Mz Blake!
BLAKE
Really, Commander!.....Well, with what I've seen and heard
here tonight, I think it would be enough for one to question your integrity
Commander. Wouldn't you agree?
RABB
Personally, ma'am, my integrity has already gone down the
toilet! So, .....what the hell do I care what the rest of the world
thinks!
****************
INT
ADMIRAL'S OFFICE
0800 HOURS
Admiral Chegwidden tosses a copy of the Washington Herald
across his desk towards Rabb who is standing at attention in front of the
Admiral's desk.
ADMIRAL
(angrily shouting)
Damn it Rabb!.... Just what
the hell were you thinking?
RABB
I guess I wasn't, Sir!
ADMIRAL
(coming forward from behind his desk and approaching
Rabb)
You GUESS?
RABB
(with great emphasis)
NO Sir!........I am SURE that I wasn't thinking,
Sir!
ADMIRAL
(in Rabb's face)
You sure as hell weren't, Commander!
RABB
Yes sir!... I agree, sir!
ADMIRAL
(shaking the newspaper in Rabb's face)
What possessed you to talk to Ms Blake in the first place,
Commander?
RABB
It wasn't by choice
sir!... She ...sort of ambushed me!
ADMIRAL
Ambushed you?
RABB
(hesitating)
Yes sir! I was having a quiet drink and
she sort of just showed up!
ADMIRAL
(his fist grasping the paper more tightly as he shakes the
newspaper in front of Rabb's face)
According to what Ms Blake wrote, Commander, it sounds to me
like you had MORE than just one!
RABB
Yes sir!...I did sir! (pauses as he
swallows nervously knowing the Admiral expected the complete
truth) I guess I had several by the time Ms Blake showed
up.
ADMIRAL
(concluding)
So you were intoxicated then.
RABB
Yes sir! To a certain degree I believe I was. But
she took my words out of context, Sir, and.........
ADMIRAL
Doesn't matter what Ms Blake did, Commander! You're the
one that gave her the ammunition and she used it very effectively rendering your
behavior as inexcusable!
RABB
Yes sir!
ADMIRAL
(sternly still face to face with Rabb)
Tell me Commander, this wasn't some sort of asinine attempt on
your part to coerce your Commanding Officer into taking you off this case now,
was it?
RABB
No sir!......Not at all, sir!
ADMIRAL
Good!.......Because it is my firm belief, Commander, that if
anyone can get to the truth of the matter, it will be you......no matter what
the cost or the outcome! So do yourself a favor, Commander stop wallowing
in your own self pity and do your job, UNDERSTOOD!
RABB
Yes sir!
*************
INT
JAG CONFERENCE ROOM
0845
The Gunny enters the conference room to find Rabb restlessly
pacing back and forth across the conference room floor. He approaches Rabb
noting the agitation in his demeanor and the distraught look he is wearing in
his expression.
GUNNY
Sir, is there something I can get for you,.........coffee,
maybe?
RABB
(rubbing his temple)
Thanks, Gunny, but I think I need some aspirin more than
coffee! Would you.....
GUNNY
I'm on it sir!.....Oh, and sir, Commander Brumby called in and
said that he's been unavoidable delayed and will be about half an hour late in
getting in this morning!
RABB
Will he be here in time for court to reconvene?
GUNNY
Yes sir!.....He said not to worry, he'd make it just
fine!
RABB
Thanks, Gunny!
With those words, Gunny walks out the door and Commander Imes
and Commander Mattoni enter the conference room.
IMES
Good morning, Commander!
RABB
Carolyn!.......(acknowledging Mattoni with a nod toward
Mattoni) Commander!
MATTONI
Commander!
IMES
(addressing Rabb as she approaches the conference table and
slaps a copy of the Washing Herald onto the table surface)
I see you've managed to become quite a celebrity overnight,
Harm!
RABB
(grabbing the newspaper and folding it closed to conceal his
photo & story)
Yah, well.......
MATTONI
I can just imagine what the Admiral had to say!
RABB
(ignoring Mattoni's remark)
Look, Carolyn, what did you want to talk to me about,
anyway?
IMES
Colonel MacKenzie! (she pauses for a long moment as she
regards Rabb standing before her) I know this isn't a usual
prosecutorial procedure, or anything, but Mac insisted that I should give
you fair warning.
RABB
Warning in regards to what, Carolyn?
IMES
Colonel Mackenzie has asked to take the witness stand on her
own behalf.
RABBI
WHAT?........Surely you're not considering.......
IMES
(interrupting)
She feels her story would be better told in her own
words.
RABBI
And she'll be hung out to dry with those words,
Carolyn!........You've got to know that!...I mean this case is weak enough as it
is. There's no real evidence short of hearsay and the only
physical evidence is circumstantial at best!
IMES
Which leaves Colonel MacKenzie the only choice she
has....which is her own testimony to convince the jury that she was
raped!.....But then there's your cross examination!
RABB
Don't put me in that position, Carolyn!
IMES
I'm sorry Harm, but it's all we've got
left!
MATTONI
And besides, you should consider this a big break for
you!........I mean here's your chance to discredit the Colonel's testimony and
wrap this case up really nice for yourself! Hell, you've blasted the hell
out of the testimony of all the other witnesses, so why should the Colonel
be any different! You should be looking at this as your chance for a full
unequivocal victory, Commander, and certainly not advising us against putting
our client on the stand. It makes one wonder where your loyalty lies!
RABB
(irritably as he walks to Mattoni and gazes directly into his
eyes)
Where my loyalties lie, Mattoni, is in defending my
client!.....Yours should lie in protecting Colonel MacKenzie's integrity and
instead you're throwing her to the wolves! It's in that decision
that I don't hesitate in the least to question your competency as her
attorneys. It's a damn irresponsible move to put Mac on the witness
stand at this point in time and both of you know it!
MATTONI
Well, maybe we have more faith in her than you do, Rabb!
So I guess we'll just have to wait and see now, won't we!
With those words, Imes
and Mattoni walk out of the room leaving Harm alone to deal with the turmoil
raging deep within his him.
>********************************TO BE
CONTINUED***************************
Gabrielle