HONOR & BETRAYAL PT 25 / 58
*******************************************
INT
MAC'S OFFICE
As Mac is sitting at her desk working on a case
file she is disturbed by the sound of a knock coming upon her
doorway. Gazing up from her work she is surprised to see Colonel Jason
Becker standing in the doorway.
MAC
Jason!
BECKER
(smiling)
Hey!....I heard you were in the office. How
are you doing?
MAC
Well all things
considered, pretty good I guess!
BECKER
Well, that's great! I'm glad to hear
it.
Mac gazes past Becker to see Harm walking across
the bullpen towards his office.
MAC
(looking past
Becker)
Thanks!
Becker notices Mac looking out into the bullpen
and glances over his shoulder to see Rabb. Becker eyes meet
Rabb's both acknowledging one another with a nod of affirmation as
Rabb continues past the office.
BECKER
(curiously, as he turns
back to Mac)
How's Commander Rabb taking all this
anyway? ....I mean, you know, having to defend Captain
Peterson.
MAC
Well, I'm certainly not in position to
answer that, Jason! And besides, it's really no one's business except the
Commander's.
BECKER
Well, if you heard some of the scuttlebutt going on around
here, you'd think differently!
MAC
(irritably)
Is that what you came in here for? To talk about
the latest scuttlebutt at JAG Ops!
BECKER
No, of course not.
MAC
Well, that's good, because if it was, I'd have to tell
you to just turn yourself around and walk straight back out of this
office!
BECKER
Look, ... I'm sorry I brought it up,
okay!
MAC
So am I. Now, if there isn't anything else, I'd
really like to finish up what I was doing.
BECKER
Well actually there is, Sarah. I was
kind of wondering if you'd consider joining me for lunch!
MAC
Umm,.... you're kidding, right?
BECKER
No!....I mean it's been a month since we broke up and... and
...well, I wouldn't consider our lunch a date or anything.....just lunch
between two friends.
MAC
Look, I really appreciate the offer, but I really don't think
it would be very appropriate.
BECKER
(pleading)
Oh come Sarah, it's just lunch....just to
talk. That's all I'm asking!
MAC
Why is this so important to you?
BECKER
Because it all ended badly and I just wanted to
sort of try and make amends that's all.
MAC
Jason, we have been through all this already,
remember?
BECKER
What are you so afraid of, Sarah?.........Me?....Men in
general?.....What?
MAC
(irritably as she stands)
Nothing!......And this conversation is over!
BECKER
You're scared, Sarah, ........I can see it
And you're shutting out everyone in your life that ever cared about you because
of it. ......Me, your friends, everyone! Don't you see
that?
MAC
You know nothing about what's happening to me,
Jason!
BECKER
Enough to know that the Sarah I see before me now isn't the
same person she was before Peterson ......
Jason's words quickly trial off as he realizes where he has
allowed the conversation to lead him to.
MAC
(bitterly)
Before Peterson what, Jason? Raped
me? Is that so hard for you to say?
BECKER
Yah, as a matter of fact, it is! I hate to even think
about what that bastard did to you!
MAC
(coldly....as her eyes pierce angrily into his)
Well, if you had been there for me that night, I wouldn't have
been raped and none of this would be happening to me now!
Becker is silenced by the desolation of Mac's last
words. He observes the anger and bitterness in the coldness of her dark
eyes.
BECKER
So you blame me, then!
MAC
(lashing out angrily but with a controlled tone of her
voice)
Well, shouldn't I?.....I mean that was you that left me
looking for a ride home that night, wasn't it?
BECKER
(with deep regret)
Sarah, I said I was sorry!
MAC
And that's supposed to fix everything?
BECKER
No Sarah, but forgiveness is a step forward! And if
you're going to begin the healing process, you may want to give it a
try!
MAC
Oh, so now all of a sudden you're an expert on a woman's
healing heart?
BECKER
No, I didn't say that!
MAC
Well, that's good, Jason, because I have the right to
feel anger towards you for what happened to me, just like I have the right to
hate the man that took me against my will and violated me in the most
hideous and degrading way imaginable! No one is going to
begrudge me of those feelings!..... My life has been filled with men who've come
into my life, taken what they wanted from me and then left me with a path
of desolation across my soul. It's pay back time and I sure as hell am
going to collect! As for you and me......I'm sorry, but there
just isn't any room in my life for you or any other man right
now! So please, just
go!
Becker studies the anger and bitterness in Mac's hard
gaze. He slowly backs away from her, turns and leaves the office.
***********************
INT
BRIG
Rabb and Brumby enter the room to find Peterson seated at the
table.
PETERSON
(as he stands)
Well, well! If it isn't the Commander
himself!
RABB
One question, Captain?
PETERSON
What's that, Rabb?
RABB
Why me?
PETERSON
Because you are a very passionate man, Commander! And
your passion lies strongly in your desire to win and to win at any cost!
Doesn't seem to matter who or what stands in your way!
RABB
Well, I wouldn't be so confident if I were you,
Captain!
PETERSON
If I doubted you could perform for me for one moment, Rabb, I
wouldn't have asked for your representation.
RABB
Well then, you'll have to prove that, Captain, because to be
honest with you, I really don't believe in your innocence and I'd
personally like to see your ass hung out to dry on this one! .....Now,
with that in mind, I'll need you to sign this waiver. (he
hands a legal document across the table to where Peterson is
standing) Commander Brumby will be your witness.
PETERSON
(picking up the document)
Waiver?.......For what?
RABB
Read it, Captain!
Peterson takes a moment to completely read the document
carefully and then gazes to Rabb.
PETERSON
Basically it says that I am aware of the fact that a possible
conflict of interest may exist due to my lead counsel's personal relationship to
the plaintiff.
RABB
Well, that sums it up pretty nicely.
PETERSON
And you really expect me to sign this?
RABB
Only If you want my representation.
PETERSON
Are you trying to rattle me, Commander?
RABB
Yes, Sir, as a matter of fact, I am!.....Right out of you're
wanting me for your defense counsel!
BRUMBY
(interjecting...attempting to defuse the rising tension
between the two men)
Captain, what Commander Rabb is trying to say
is.....
RABB
(irritably, his eyes steadfast on Peterson)
I'm handling this, Brumby!
Peterson gazes to Brumby for some sort of
affirmation
PETERSON
(addressing Brumby)
Am I obligated to sign this?
BRUMBY
Legally, yes sir...that is if you want his
representation. You see, a conflict of interest could possibly exist here
and (gazing to Rabb putting great emphasis on his next few words)
although the Commander has every intention of defending you to the best of his
ability, unforeseen problems could arise later on during the court
martial. This waiver states simply that you are aware of the potential
problems and that it hasn't affected your decision in desiring Commander
Rabb as your trial counsel.
RABB
(concluding)
So my advice would be to consider the matter carefully,
SIR!
PETERSON
Oh, I already have, Commander!.......And I'll sign the damn
waiver just as long as I know that it's not your licensee to providing me with
an inadequate defense!
RABB
By your signature on that waiver, Captain, you are
acknowledging the fact that the possibility does exist, sir!
Peterson gazes irritably to
Rabb realizing that Rabb is trying desperately to intimidate him.
PETERSON
I could sign all the waivers in the world and it wouldn't take
away my confidence in how I look at you as my ticket out of all this mess!
Because you see, Commander, I have observed you in the courtroom, and lets just
say that I have developed a certain admiration for your style and passion for
winning. You're the most self-righteous, upstanding, believer in the truth
and the American way type son of a bitch I've ever come across and you'll find
any way to defend me because it's your job!
RABB
Well I guess I should take that as a compliment, SIR!
And if you have that much confidence in my integrity, then by all means,
sign the waiver! I just hope there are no regrets later on down the
road!
PETERSON
(smiling sarcastically)
Got a pen?
Rabb removes a pen from his lapel pocket and hands it to
Peterson. Peterson leans over the table, quickly signs the document and
then hands paper and pen back to Rabb.
PETERSON
I guess this makes it all legal
now!
Rabb accepts the pen and document from Peterson
returning the pen to his pocket and handing the document to Brumby who places it
into Peterson's case file.
RABB
There's only one more thing, sir!.
PETERSON
And what would that be, Commander?
RABB
Well, sir, by the onset of this court martial, my integrity
will probably be shot to hell and my passion as you so eloquently put it will
probably be there right along with it!
PETERSON
(laughs sarcastically)
You just don't know when to give it up, Commander, now do
you!
RABB
Well, at least you can't say you were never warned,
sir!
PETERSON
Nope, sure can't!..... So, I guess will be seeing each other
in court then.
BRUMBY
Probably before that, Captain, to go over strategy and the
like!
PETERSON
(his eyes steadfast on Rabb)
Of course!.....I'm sure that will be interesting!
Rabb's tolerance to be in the same room with Peterson
grows too thin for his comfort. He collects his coat and briefcase from
the surface of the table throwing the coat over his left arm. He then
retreats towards the door.
PETERSON
(calling after Rabb)
What, no good-byes?
Rabb pulls open the door and exits the room without looking
back. Brumby meets Peterson's gaze as the two consider what has just
transpired between Peterson and Rabb.
BRUMBY
If I were you, sir, I'd consider finding myself another
lawyer!
PETERSON
I trust that the man will come through for me,
Commander! The stakes are too high for him not to!
BRUMBY
You've just made him choose between his honor as a Naval
officer and betraying a close friend and associate, Captain!
Something's going to give and I certainly wouldn't want to be in the way when it
does!
PETERSON
A little over dramatic, don't you think,
Commander?
BRUMBY
Not if you knew the man like I do, sir!
PETERSON
Really? Well, then, it will be interesting to see just
exactly what he's made of, won't it?
BRUMBY
And that somehow intrigues you, Sir?
PETERSON
Commander, .....it's part of my job to weed out the guys
that fall short of making the grade. It's become sort of an art for me,
you know! I can usually pick out the losers right from the get
go!
BRUMBY
So you think Commander Rabb's a looser?
PETERSON
Hell no, Brumby, haven't you been listening at all! He's
going to choose to do the only thing that drives him on.....and that my friend,
is his sense of duty!
Brumby shakes his head negatively to the Captain's
words. He gathers up his coat and briefcase and starts toward the
door.
BRUMBY
(turning back to the Captain)
Well, Captain, there's something else you should know about
the Commander!...Loyalty to his friends it right up there along side his
sense of duty! (pauses for a long moment) With respect, sir,
but I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when he makes the choice between the two
because you could very well be the looser on this one.
Brumby walks out of the room leaving
Peterson alone to reconsider his position.
>************************ TO BE
CONTINUED ***************