Honor & Betrayal PT 17
INT
BRIG...MALORY'S CELL
1543 HOURS
Lieutenant Malory is standing by the barred window of his cell
when he hears the creaking of the doorway opening at the end of the
hallway. He turns from the window as he hears footsteps approaching and
walks to the front of his cell. Gazing down the hallway, he observes
Peterson being escorted up the hallway by two Marine SP's. As Peterson
passes, the two men exchange glances. Pausing at the cell door across the
hall, one of the Marines opens the cell door and Peterson reluctantly
enters.
FIRST MARINE
(as he slams the door
shut)
You two may as well keep each other
company........I mean seeing your such good buddies and all!
The two Marines walk off down the hallway as Malory regards
Peterson with distaste.
MALORY
Well, sir, .....it looks as though you won't be in any
position to help me out of this one.
PETERSON
Look, I did my best to try and get you off,
Lieutenant! You can blame Rabb's damn lawyering skills for
influencing Admiral Morris into charging you with murder two instead of the
lesser charge. I'm sorry, what else can I say?
MALORY
Yah, well that doesn't change the fact that I'm in this
mess because of you, sir!
PETERSON
No, Lieutenant, you're in this mess because you used poor
judgement. All I asked you to do was discourage Sergeant
Nichols, .........not kill the poor bastard for God's sake!
MALORY
(his voice rising with panic)
Nothing was going to discourage the man, SIR, and you
know it!
PETERSON
(nervously gazing up and down the hallway)
Just relax, Malory, and keep your voice
down.
MALORY
Why should I?..........I mean maybe I should tell them the
truth and let you fry along with me!
PETERSON
That would be a bad idea, son, so you'd better
keep your mouth shut or I can assure you that there will be serious
consequences!
MALORY
I don't believe this!........I mean I covered for you and this
is the thanks I get for putting my life and career on the
line!
PETERSON
Come on Malory, let's not get overly dramatic here,
ok? Just relax a little and give yourself a chance to think a
little more clearly.
MALORY
I've had plenty of time to think over the last few days,
Captain, and all I know is that you're in as worse of a predicament as I am and
there's absolutely no way I can see that you can help me out of this! So
basically, I'm facing this damn rap alone.
PETERSON
Look, Malory, Colonel Mackenzie has nothing........she
won't win this not based solely on her own testimony.... and trust me,
that's all she's got! My Article 32 hearing is next Friday and
as soon as I'm exonerated of these charges, I'll be out of here
and I'll do my best to get you off, I swear!...........But you've got to
settle down, Malory, or we will both end up in Leavanworth! Now, are you
understanding me, son?
Malory regards Peterson with distrust but seemingly concedes
to Peterson's terms.
************************
INT
RABB'S HOSPITAL ROOM
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
TWO DAYS LATER....0958 (m)
Commander Rabb is sitting on the bed with the bed tray across
his lap and case files in disarray on the tray as well as across the foot
of the bed. Salyer enters the room pushing a wheel chair before him.
Harm gazes up as he hears the sound of footsteps and observes Salyer
approaching.
SALYER
(smiling)
Good morning, sir.
RABB
(nodding in affirmation)
Ensign!
SALYER
(observing the files scattered about)
Dedicated officer till the end, are you, sir?
RABB
(laughs slightly)
Well, it's not so much dedication as dread,
Ensign.
SALYER
Sir?
RABB
Dread as in the mounds of paper work that I'll be facing if I
don't keep it in check, Ensign.
SALYER
Understood, sir. However, I believe we should get you
back on your feet first, and then we'll worry about playing catch up, sir!
(indicating the wheel chair) Why don't we take a ride, Sir?
RABB
Where to, Ensign?
SALYER
Physical therapy, sir!........Where else?
At that moment, Lieutenant Commander Jordan Parker enters the
room and walks up behind the Ensign.
JORDAN
Well Ensign, you don't suppose it could wait a
moment or two now, do you?
Rabb observes Jordan as she walks around the Ensign to the
foot of the bed and they exchange smiles.
SALYER
Ma'am,.....no, ma'am!........Just let me know when you're
finished with him.
With those words, the Ensign immediately exits the room
leaving Jordan and Harm alone.
RABB
(observing Jordan as she walks to his side)
Well, nothing like the feeling that everyone else has
total control over one's life!
JORDAN
(leaning over and gently placing a kiss upon Harm's
lips)
Oh, you're not allowing an Ensign, to intimidate you now
are you, Commander?
RABB
No, but in this place, it doesn't seem like rank
has it's privileges, you know? They do what they want to you, when they
want and by whatever means that suits them at any given moment!
JORDAN
Sounds like you're feeling well enough to want out of
here!
RABB
Yesterday wouldn't of been too soon,
Jordan!
JORDAN
Well, I definitely would say that you are looking a little
better each time I see you.
RABB
Gee, thanks, Jordan.
JORDAN
(laughs slightly)
Any word as to when they will be discharging you?
RABB
Well, hopefully by Friday, but Doctor Marshall
hasn't mentioned anything specific as yet.
JORDAN
Why is Friday so important?
RABB
Mac's Article 32 hearing is on Friday.
JORDAN
And you think that you'll be back on your feet enough to
attend?
RABB
Well, I'd like to be there as a show of support, you
know!......So, yah, the thought did cross my mind.
JORDAN
(agitation quickly consuming her)
You mean like what you were doing when you nearly got yourself
killed!
Rabb gazes to Jordan somewhat shocked by her last
words.
RABB
What are you talking about?
JORDON
You.........Captain Peterson.......the intended meeting over
whose was bigger!....Need I say more?
RABB
How did you know.........
JORDAN
It doesn't matter, Harm!..........What does matter to me is
how far you are willing to go for her.
RABB
Jordan, Mac's a good friend, you know that
..........
JORDAN
No, Harm, I'm not the one who's such a fool that I don't
realize what's going on here!
RABB
And what's that supposed to mean?
JORDON
It means that although I am in love with you, you're not in
love with me.
RABB
Jordan, that's not true.
JORDAN
Isn't it, Harm?.......You can't be in love with two
people.....
RABB
What's gotten into you, Jordan?........I love you......
there's no one else!
JORDAN
Oh, come on, Harm! Are you so in denial that you
can't see it?
RABB
What I see, Jordan, is a woman who's jealousy is
clouding her judgement and causing her to say some things she doesn't
mean.
JORDAN
I can't be jealous of something I never had, Harm, and I've
felt that in my heart for almost as long as I've known you. It's just that
I kept fooling myself into thinking that she'd just sort of fade away into the
background and one day your heart and soul would totally belong to
me!
RABB
Jordan, Mac and I .........
JORDAN
No Harm,..... don't. This is the way
it has to be because I know now that I should have left things well enough
alone when you came back to JAG. But I loved you too much and that's been
my mistake all along. Well, now it's time for me to back away from this
relationship before I get hurt any more!
RABB
Jordan, don't I have a say in any of this?
JORDON
I'm sorry, Harm!......It's over so please let's just end this
as friends, ok?
Harm and Jordan gaze at one another for a long moment neither
knowing what else to say to each other. Jordan slowly steps back away from
the bed and walks hastily out of the room.